Meaning of great unwashed | Babel Free

Definitions

The general populace, particularly the working class.

derogatory, idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Equivalents

Examples

“[T]he gentlemen of the inns of court, and the gentlemen of the universities… live⟳ in abodes which were erected long before the custom of cleanliness and decency obtained among us. … Gentlemen, there can be but little doubt⟳ that your ancestors were the Great Unwashed: and in the Temple especially, it is pretty certain, that only under the greatest difficulties and restrictions the virtue which has been pronounced to be next to godliness could have⟳ been practised at all.”

“The Liberal campaign was so carefully orchestrated that McLeod was never in a position to be confronted by the great unwashed. Unfortunately, the great unwashed rarely vote⟳ for a leader whom they have⟳ never met.”

CEFR level