What does "Climb the ladder" mean?

To advance in one's career Making progress up the corporate/career hierarchy.

How do you use "Climb the ladder" in a sentence?

Climbing the corporate ladder. Wants to climb the ladder. Climbing the ladder of success. On her way up the ladder.

Climb the ladder

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To advance in one's career

晋升，往上爬

Ascender en la carrera profesional

出世する、昇進する

승진하다, 출세하다

Making progress up the corporate/career hierarchy.

在公司或职业阶梯上不断进步。

Progresar en la jerarquía corporativa o profesional.

会社や職業の階層を上っていくこと。

회사나 직업에서 계층 구조의 위로 올라가는 것.

Examples

Climbing the corporate ladder.
在公司往上爬
Subiendo en la empresa
出世街道を登る
출세 가도를 달리고 있어.
Wants to climb the ladder.
想要晋升
Quiere ascender
出世したがっている
출세하고 싶어 해.
Climbing the ladder of success.
攀登成功的阶梯
Subiendo la escalera del éxito
成功への階段を登る
성공의 사다리를 오르고 있어.
On her way up the ladder.
她正在晋升之路上
Está ascendiendo
彼女は出世コースにいる
그녀는 승승장구하고 있어.

Pronunciation

/klaɪm ðə ˈlædər/

Usage Guide

Context: career, ambition, success

Tone: can be positive or critical

✓ Do Say

Climb the ladder.
往上爬
Ascender
出世する
사다리를 오르다.
Climbing the corporate ladder.
在公司晋升
Subir en la empresa
会社で昇進する
출세 가도를 달리다.
Up the ladder.
向上
Hacia arriba
上を目指す
위로 올라가다.

✗ Don't Say

Can be aspirational or critical
可以是褒义也可以是贬义
Puede ser aspiracional o crítico
野心的な意味にも批判的な意味にもなる
긍정적일 수도, 비판적일 수도 있음
Very common
非常常见
Muy común
非常によく使われる
매우 흔하게 사용됨

Common Mistakes

Can imply careerism
Universal expression

Origin & History

From career advancement being like climbing rungs of a ladder.

Etymology: From climbing ladder rungs

First recorded: Common expression

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Corporate culture; Career advice

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

Climb the ladderCorporate ladderCareer ladder