put the beggar on the gentleman: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  British Englishhistoricalarchaicliteraryformal
  • To reverse social roles by reducing a person of higher status to a position of need or dependence; to humble or disgrace a gentleman by forcing him into the position of a beggar.
  • Figuratively, to place someone of advantage into a state of disadvantage or humiliation.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The scandal put the beggar on the gentleman, forcing the wealthy CEO to declare bankruptcy.

    El escándalo humilló al caballero, obligando al rico CEO a declararse en bancarrota.

  • When the aristocrat lost all his fortune, fate put the beggar on the gentleman overnight.

    Cuando el aristócrata perdió toda su fortuna, el destino lo humilló de la noche a la mañana.

  • They say war can put the beggar on the gentleman, turning nobles into paupers in an instant.

    Dicen que la guerra puede humillar a los caballeros, convirtiendo nobles en pobres al instante.