elitist crowd
- noun
- Offensive
:
gente esnob
- Rumors spread quickly among the elitist crowd at the private party.
Examples
-
She was never interested in joining the elitist crowd at work, preferring more down-to-earth colleagues.
-
The elitist crowd gathered at the exclusive gala.
-
Many students felt intimidated by the elitist crowd in the honors club.
-
Many people feel excluded by the elitist crowd in our city.
-
The elitist crowd at the gala looked down upon anyone who didn't wear designer clothes.
-
Many feel that the elitist crowd in the art world is disconnected from the average person.
-
Even when discussing popular culture, the elitist crowd tends to dismiss anything they consider mainstream.
Synonyms
9
5.0
A small group of people with more money, power, or education than others
5
8.0
A group of popular people who set trends others follow
A group of young people who work in the city and act like they are better than others
A group of people who are rich and try to seem better than others
Antonyms
How Elitist
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: the adjective 'elitist' (exclusive, snobbish) modifies 'crowd' (a group of people), so the phrase simply denotes a group regarded as exclusive or superior. This straightforward adjective + noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Elitist crowd may come from the image of a small group standing apart at a party or club, as if they belong to the 'best' people; the parts elitist (people who act superior) and crowd (a group) create a clear picture. That's why the phrase now means 'a group that is exclusive or snobbish'.