# pull the ladder up behind oneself

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pull-the-ladder-up-behind-oneself
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To prevent others from attaining or benefiting from the same advantages, opportunities, or rights as oneself.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.