underling
a person of lower status than someone else
TRANSLATION
underling = Untergebener, Untergeordneter, Handlanger, Befehlsempfänger --- GOOGLE INDEX underling: approximately 52,200 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Confused confessions of a political UNDERLING. Michael Deacon watches the latest events at the Leveson Inquiry, as Adam Smith, former special adviser to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, gives evidence for a second day.
The Teöegraph
The Teöegraph
Did you
know?
underlings
noun
- an insulting word for someone who is less important or has lower status in an organization than someone else
(Macmillan Dictionary)
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The origin of the word underling is very old, from the early 1120s and means "one who owes allegiance to a sovereign or ruler".
Some of the synonyms for underling include manservant, which came into the language in the 1550s to describe a type of butler who attended to clothing, meals and other household matters for wealthy individuals.
A related term from the 1700s is footman. This refers to a personal attendant who ran along next to his master's carriage, to announce the arrival.
Another similar word, minion, has become popular in recent years thanks to the animated film Despicable Me (Ich – Einfach Unverbesserlich), in which the simple yellow beings, called Minions, live to serve their master.
In offices today, particularly in US English, you might use the idiom "low man on the totem pole". Underlings may be required to perform "dirty work", unpleasant tasks such as firing other employees, so the boss's reputation remains unsoiled.
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SYNONYMS
subordinate, assistant, minion, attendant, manservant, footman, aide
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our new CEO was the Chairman's underling 20 years ago."
noun
- an insulting word for someone who is less important or has lower status in an organization than someone else
(Macmillan Dictionary)
---
The origin of the word underling is very old, from the early 1120s and means "one who owes allegiance to a sovereign or ruler".
Some of the synonyms for underling include manservant, which came into the language in the 1550s to describe a type of butler who attended to clothing, meals and other household matters for wealthy individuals.
A related term from the 1700s is footman. This refers to a personal attendant who ran along next to his master's carriage, to announce the arrival.
Another similar word, minion, has become popular in recent years thanks to the animated film Despicable Me (Ich – Einfach Unverbesserlich), in which the simple yellow beings, called Minions, live to serve their master.
In offices today, particularly in US English, you might use the idiom "low man on the totem pole". Underlings may be required to perform "dirty work", unpleasant tasks such as firing other employees, so the boss's reputation remains unsoiled.
---
SYNONYMS
subordinate, assistant, minion, attendant, manservant, footman, aide
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our new CEO was the Chairman's underling 20 years ago."
