look down on somebody
Meaning(s)
1. to regard something or somebody as lesser or inferior and to regard them in a snobby manner
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
look down on the working-class
Analysis
The phrasal verb to look down on someone means to regard someone as inferior or to consider yourself as more important than someone else. You can use this in any context - social or professional - but you might think of someone in a higher position in work 'looking down on' those beneath them. The idea is that someone is arrogant and treats others disrespectfully.
Social Examples (Basic)
- My parents taught me not to look down on anyone and never to judge a book by its cover.
- I find it hard not to look down on people who smoke.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- We discovered that some members of the company look down on the work of others, and this makes for poor team performance.
- I always feel like my supervisors look down on me. They talk down to me all the time and make me feel stupid.