Climb the ladder

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal
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Meaning: To advance in one's career, especially through promotions in a corporate hierarchy.

在职业上步步高升;尤指通过企业内部晋升来发展事业。
Ascender en la carrera profesional, especialmente mediante promociones en una jerarquía corporativa.
キャリアを向上させること。特に企業の階層での昇進を通じて。
커리어를 향상시키다. 특히 기업 조직 내에서 승진을 통해.

'Climbing the ladder' (or 'the corporate ladder') means progressing upward through job titles and responsibilities. It implies ambition and a traditional career path — starting at the bottom and working your way up through an organization.

'Climbing the ladder'(爬梯子)或'the corporate ladder'(企业阶梯)意味着在职位和职责上逐步上升。这暗示着一种雄心壮志和传统的职业路径——从基层做起,一步步在组织中向上攀升。
'Climbing the ladder' (o 'the corporate ladder') significa progresar en títulos y responsabilidades laborales. Implica ambición y una trayectoria profesional tradicional — empezar desde abajo e ir ascendiendo dentro de una organización.
「Climbing the ladder」(または「the corporate ladder=企業のはしご」)は職位や責任を通じて上に進むことを意味する。野心と伝統的なキャリアパス——組織の底辺から始めて上に登っていくことを暗示する。
'사다리를 오르다(climbing the ladder)' 또는 '기업의 사다리(the corporate ladder)'는 직함과 책임을 통해 위로 올라가는 것을 뜻한다. 야망과 전통적인 커리어 경로를 암시한다 — 밑바닥에서 시작해서 조직 내에서 차근차근 올라가는 것.

Examples

  1. She's been climbing the ladder for ten years — now she's a VP.
    她在这家公司奋斗了十年(climbing the ladder)——现在已经是副总裁了。
    Lleva diez años escalando posiciones (climbing the ladder) — ahora es vicepresidenta.
    彼女は10年間出世の階段を上り続けて(climbing the ladder)——今は副社長だ。
    그녀는 10년간 승진의 사다리를 올라(climbing the ladder) — 이제 부사장이야.
  2. If you want to climb the ladder here, you need to network.
    如果你想在这里往上爬,就得学会建立人脉。
    Si quieres ascender aquí, necesitas hacer contactos.
    ここで出世したいなら、人脈作りが必要だ。
    여기서 출세하고 싶으면 인맥을 쌓아야 해.
  3. He wasn't interested in climbing the corporate ladder — he wanted to do his own thing.
    他对企业晋升竞争没兴趣——他想做自己的事。
    A él no le interesaba escalar la escalera corporativa — quería hacer lo suyo.
    彼は企業の出世競争には興味がなかった——自分自身のことをやりたかった。
    그는 기업의 사다리를 오르는 것에는 관심이 없었어——자기만의 길을 가고 싶었거든.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: career, corporate culture, casual conversation

Tone: ambitious, evaluative

✓ Do Say

  • She's climbing the ladder fast.
    她升得很快。
    Está subiendo como la espuma (She's climbing the ladder fast).
    彼女は急速に出世している。
    그녀는 빠르게 승진하고 있어.
  • I want to climb the ladder in this company.
    我想在这家公司一步步往上走。
    Quiero ascender en esta empresa (I want to climb the ladder in this company).
    この会社で出世したい。
    이 회사에서 승진하고 싶어.

✗ Don't Say

  • Accepted in professional contexts — one of the tamer idioms you can use at work
    在职场中完全可以使用——是比较温和的习语之一
    Es aceptable en contextos profesionales — uno de los modismos más moderados que puedes usar en el trabajo
    ビジネスの場でも受け入れられる——職場で使えるおとなしめのイディオムの一つ
    전문적인 자리에서도 용인되는 표현 — 직장에서 사용할 수 있는 무난한 관용구 중 하나

Origin & History

From the metaphor of a ladder representing hierarchical advancement. The full phrase 'climbing the corporate ladder' emerged in American business culture in the mid-1900s as corporate hierarchies became more structured.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-1900s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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