What Is an Upstart?
Let me explain what an upstart really is. It's someone who's climbed up the social or economic ladder quickly, but hasn't earned the full acceptance from others in that new level yet. You might also hear 'Upstart' as the name of an online lending platform started in 2012, which uses things like your education and job history for personal loans instead of just your credit score. And don't mix it up with a startup—that's a new business venture altogether.
Key Takeaways
Here's the core of it: an upstart is that person who's shot up to a higher status but doesn't have the right social grace or skills for it. There's often a gap between them and the group they've joined, leading to rejection because they come off as arrogant or clueless about etiquette. If it's a newly promoted worker who can't blend in at the top, it could even get them fired.
Generic Meaning of Upstart
In general terms, an upstart is anyone who's leaped up in rank or wealth out of nowhere—think rags to riches from an inheritance or a smart stock pick. But they've got to learn the social ropes to fit in, and instead, they often turn arrogant, which pushes people away. If they're constantly shut out, they might dig in their heels and get even more opinionated.
Take someone who's suddenly rich; they might start acting superior, especially if they're now in a leadership role without the real skills to back it up. That attitude can wreck things if they're managing others.
Meaning of Upstart in the Workplace
In a job setting, an upstart can be a nightmare as a manager, but even worse as an employee. As they gain status and cash, they stop fixing their flaws, ignore teamwork, and overvalue their own contributions while downplaying others'. This breeds resentment from bosses and colleagues alike.
If they don't turn it around and rebuild those relationships, they'll flop in the role, no matter their technical chops.
What Are Some Synonyms of Upstart?
You can swap 'upstart' with words like arriviste, nouveau-riche, parvenu, or social climber—they all capture that idea of someone pushing into a higher circle without the polish.
Where Does the Term Upstart Come From?
The word goes back to Middle English, around 1150-1500. It first showed up as a verb in 1303 in Robert Mannyng's writings. It's an English-derived term, plain and simple.
What Is the Difference Between Startup and Upstart?
A startup is a fresh business in its early days, backed by investors, loans, or even family money. 'Upstart' might sound similar for a new company scraping by without big funding, but it carries negativity—implying they're chasing success without the experience or credibility. Startups, though, get linked to innovation and growth potential.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, an upstart in the office is often a young hotshot in a new spot who acts like they're better than everyone else. That arrogance stirs up trouble and unhappy teams. Remember, it's not the same as a startup, which is positive, or the lending company with the same name.
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