nouveau riche
nouveau riche means "newly rich" in french. One who has recently become rich, especially one who flaunts newly acquired wealth.nouveau riche is a term, usually derogatory, to describe persons who acquire wealth within their generation, and spend it
conspicuously. The implication is that, being of lower- or middle-class origin, these individuals lack the taste to properly use wealth. Hence, this class of people is sometimes ill-regarded by
old money as culturally inferior, comparatively lacking in
pedigree and subtlety.The
benchmark of the "nouveau riche" is their acquiring posessions which are
touted to them as being the sort of things that rich people would possess. "
Old money" in traditional European societies have inherited a large house filled with well-built furniture acquired over the centuries. Their cars are not necessarily the most expensive and capable, but have a bit of restraint, or else they disguise their social position in cars of the middle rank. During the Great Depression, Chryslers, for example, were sold to such people for this reason. They fit within a social
milieu in which everyone knows everyone else and has for generations. The "nouveau riche" in essence try to crash this party by buying everything they need to show that they have money not merely within one generation but within a few years.
nouveau riche
by trustcofan33 on Mar 18, 2005 03:39:26
Nouveau riche is French for 'New Rich.' It refers to wealthy people who aren't from
old money or aren't
blue blooded. They may be rich, but they're not socially accepted yet by those who have had wealth in their family for generations.
nouveau riche
by Benjamin on Mar 28, 2005 06:39:59
A term of reference used by the already rich to describe people who had the audacity to become rich by actually working for it rather than by
patronage and
inheritance.
One could argue that the only
validity of the derogatory moniker is for those who have more money than class - but then that could be said of the more traditional rich.