pull the ladder up behind oneself
To prevent others from attaining or benefiting from the same advantages, opportunities, or rights as oneself.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“They succeeded, but now they pull the ladder up behind themselves.”
“He gets rich and pulls the ladder up behind himself by supporting higher taxes.”
“After the company promoted him, he changed the hiring rules to pull the ladder up behind himself, blocking others from similar growth.”
“The manager secured a flexible schedule for her own family but then pulled the ladder up behind herself by banning remote work for all new staff members.”
“Once the homeowners bought their houses at low prices, they pulled the ladder up behind themselves by voting against any new affordable housing in the neighborhood.”
“Critics argue that the wealthy generation enjoyed free education, only to pull the ladder up behind themselves by imposing high tuition fees on their successors.”
Formed by analogy with established metaphors for social and professional advancement, such as to make it to the top or to climb the ladder. The phrase likens the attainment of success to an upward struggle, framing the subsequent denial of similar opportunities to others as the literal removal of the means of ascent.
- 01
adorn oneself with borrowed plumes
To claim the honor of another for oneself.
- 02
apply oneself
Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.
- 03
be oneself
To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.
- 04
bear oneself
To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.
- 05
box oneself into a corner
To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
- 06
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 07
carry oneself
To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.
- 08
come to oneself
To gain consciousness or self-control.
Last updated August 10, 2026