Idiom
brass ceiling
Meaning
An unwritten, uncodified barrier to promotion or progression for women in law enforcement or the military.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“She faced a brass ceiling in her police career.”
“Despite her excellent record, she felt the brass ceiling prevented her from reaching the rank of captain.”
“Many female officers argue that the brass ceiling remains a significant obstacle to achieving true gender equality within the upper echelons of military command.”
Examples
simple
“She faced a brass ceiling in her police career.”
contextual
“Despite her excellent record, she felt the brass ceiling prevented her from reaching the rank of captain.”
complex
“Many female officers argue that the brass ceiling remains a significant obstacle to achieving true gender equality within the upper echelons of military command.”
Origin
From *brass*, used to indicate high-ranking military officers, and *ceiling*, suggesting a barrier to upward advancement.
Key words
Related idioms
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