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Glass ceiling

Glass ceiling

Meaning

An unacknowledged or unseen discriminatory barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to positions of power.

Examples

I’ve more experience, better qualifications and work harder than my male co-workers, yet I still don’t get promoted and no one tells me why. I guess that’s what they call the glass ceiling.

Where did it originate?

America, 20th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Glass ceiling

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