Idioms

rags to riches

This page is about the idiom rags to riches

Meaning

If you go from rags to riches, you start out very poor and you become very rich.

For example

  • My grandfather went from rags to riches when his dishwashing liquid became very popular. He started out making it at home, but in less than a year he had his own factory.

  • Most of these young guys in professional basketball came from poor neighbourhoods and they all have the same rags-to-riches story.

Note:
If used as a modifier before a noun or a noun phrase, hyphens must be added, as in "a rags-to-riches story".

Quick Quiz

This girl I knew in high school has had an unusual life. She went from rags to riches after she

a. got a job in a bank

b. lost millions of dollars gambling

c. became a top international model
a) got a job in a bank b) lost millions of dollars gambling c) became a top international model

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey