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great unwashed

A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.

Etymology:

  • Attributed by many to Edmund Burke, the first published use of the phrase was by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in a dedicatory epistle for 1830, Paul Clifford.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to great unwashed

great oaks from little acorns growgo to great lengthsAppendix:Snowclones/with great X, comes…unwashed massesgreat danegreat minds think alikegreat dealgreat jobnow that's a great questionwinning is a great deodorantgo great gunsgreat beyond"it's in the little things that we…a great deal

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