# white trash

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/white-trash
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A poorly educated white person or, collectively, white people of low social status and often regarded as lazy, irresponsible, unintelligent, etc.

## Examples

- He grew up in a trailer park and people called him white trash.
- He feels angry when people use the phrase white trash to judge his family.
- Calling someone white trash is a very rude way to talk about their background.
- The movie portrayed the family as white trash, which many critics found offensive and unfair.
- The wealthy neighbors used the term white trash to describe anyone who kept an old, broken car in their front yard.
- She realized the book was full of stereotypes because it labeled every poor character in the town as white trash.
- Despite having escaped poverty and earned a degree, she still bristled when she heard old classmates whisper that she would always be white trash.

## Origin

A shortening, first attested in 1850, of poor white trash, which black slaves in the Southern United States were said to call white individuals who worked in servile positions (for example, as butlers). (disputed)

---

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.