sans-grade
French
Etymology
From sans + grade.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɑ̃.ɡʁad/
Noun
sans-grade m or f (plural sans-grades)
- person relegated to the bottom of the social ladder
- 1969, Georges Simenon, Maigret et le tueur [Maigret and the Killer], page 100:
- C'était un des gagne-petit de la P. J., l'un de ceux qui, faute d'une certaine instruction de base, restent des sans-grades pendant toute leur vie.
- He was one of the little men of the Criminal Police, one of those who, through the lack of a certain basic education, remain unpromoted all their lives.
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Further reading
- “sans-grade”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.