poor relation

Definitions

Something neglected or seen as inferior.

Equivalents

Examples

“Because of our homosexuality the Black community casts us as outsiders. We are the poor relations, the proverbial black sheep, without a history, a literature, a religion, or a community”

“Competition policy was the poor relation of industrial policy. By the 1990s the position was reversed. Industrial policy was passe, competition policy was central to the economic policy debate⟳.”

“In the State Department, Africa was the poor relation, handled as a subsidiary of the Middle East Bureau.”

“The Bakerloo Line, the poor relation of the London Underground, has become⟳ a huge talking point⟳ in terms of both its immediate and medium-term future.”

CEFR level