ceiling
Related to ceiling: debt ceiling
bamboo ceiling
A figurative discriminatory barrier in the workplace that impedes the career progress of Asians and people of Asian descent, preventing them from reaching top leadership positions in a company. Coined by the writer Jane Hyun, it is derived from the term "glass ceiling," which refers to the subtle discriminations that prevent women from advancing to the top positions in business. Mark was worried that his Chinese heritage might result in a bamboo ceiling if he tried to get a promotion down the line.
See also: bamboo, ceiling
brass ceiling
The barrier of gender bias that makes it difficult for women in the military to advance through the ranks. A play on the phrase "glass ceiling," which refers to the same difficulty for women in the workplace in general. I can't stand this brass ceiling—if I were a man, I'd be a corporal by now.
See also: brass, ceiling
glass ceiling
The systemic discrimination (likened to a physical barrier) against certain groups in the workplace, especially women, that prevents them from advancing. Many people believe that a glass ceiling exists within the tech industry because not many women hold prominent positions in the field.
See also: ceiling, glass
go through the ceiling
To increase significantly and often suddenly. Interest in our restaurant went through the ceiling after that glowing review in the newspaper.
See also: ceiling, go, through
go through the roof
1. To react to something angrily. Mom will go through the roof when she finds out we disobeyed her again.
2. To increase to a very high level. Once our neighborhood was featured in that popular show, house prices went through the roof.
See also: go, roof, through
hit the ceiling
To react with extreme anger. Mom will hit the ceiling when she finds out we broke the vase by playing ball in the house again.
See also: ceiling, hit
hit the roof
To become extremely angry or upset. My parents are going to hit the roof if they find out we had a party here! The boss hit the roof when he saw that we'd already blown through the budget.
See also: hit, roof
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
go through the roof
1. Fig. Inf. to become very angry. She saw what had happened and went through the roof. My father went through the roof when he saw what I did to the car.
2. Fig. Inf. [for prices] to become very high. These days, prices for gasoline are going through the roof. The cost of coffee is going through the roof.
See also: go, roof, through
hit the ceiling
and hit the roofFig. to get very angry. She really hit the ceiling when she found out what happened. My dad'll hit the roof when he finds out that I wrecked his car.
See also: ceiling, hit
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
glass ceiling
An unacknowledged discriminatory barrier to advancement, especially for women and minorities. For example, Harriet knew she'd never be promoted-she would never get through the glass ceiling. [1980s]
See also: ceiling, glass
go through the roof
1. Also, hit the ceiling or roof . Lose one's temper, become very angry, as in Marge went through the roof when she heard she'd been fired. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
2. Reach new or unexpected heights, as in After the war, food prices went through the roof. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
See also: go, roof, through
hit the ceiling
Also, hit the roof. Explode in anger, as in Jane hit the ceiling when she saw her grades, or Dad hit the roof when he didn't get his usual bonus. The first expression dates from the early 1900s; the second is a version of a 16th-century locution, up in the house roof or house-top, meaning "enraged."
See also: ceiling, hit
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
go through the ceiling
COMMON If the level of something goes through the ceiling, it increases by a lot very rapidly. Sales went through the ceiling and pharmacists began reporting shortages of the drug. Compare with go through the roof.
See also: ceiling, go, through
hit the ceiling
COMMON If someone hits the ceiling, they suddenly become very angry and shout at someone. When I told him what happened, he hit the ceiling. Compare with hit the roof.
See also: ceiling, hit
the glass ceiling
COMMON If you talk about the glass ceiling, you mean the opinions and attitudes which prevent people, especially women, from being given the most important jobs. At the age of 43 she became the highest ranking woman officer in the country, only to find she'd hit the glass ceiling. A woman judge has at last succeeded in breaking through the glass ceiling into the Court of Appeal, the second highest court in the land.
See also: ceiling, glass
go through the roof
orhit the roof
COMMON
1. If the level of something goes through the roof or hits the roof, it increases by a lot very rapidly. Interest rates were going through the roof. In 1990, wool prices hit the roof. Compare with go through the ceiling.
2. If someone goes through the roof or hits the roof, they suddenly become very angry, and usually show their anger by shouting at someone. When I told my mother she went through the roof. She took one look at my hair and hit the roof. Compare with go through the ceiling. Compare with hit the ceiling.
See also: go, roof, through
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
hit the ceiling
fly into a sudden rage. 2004 Scarlett Elizabeth Cooper Nuts & Bolts When Dr John Pulaski arrived home that night, he hit the ceiling. ‘Why are you bringing other people into our home?’ he demanded of his wife.
See also: ceiling, hit
go through (or hit) the roof
1 (of prices or figures) reach extreme or unexpected heights; become exorbitant. 2 suddenly become very angry. informalSee also: go, roof, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hit the ˈroof/ˈceiling
(informal) suddenly become very angry: Every time I mention Patricia, Sam hits the roof.See also: ceiling, hit, roof
go through the ˈroof
(informal)1 become very angry: He went through the roof when I told him I’d lost the money.
2 (of prices, numbers) rise or increase very high very quickly: Prices have gone through the roof since the oil crisis began.
See also: go, roof, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hit the ceiling
and hit the roof tv. to get very angry. She really hit the ceiling when she found out what happened.
See also: ceiling, hit
hit the roof
verbSee hit the ceiling
See also: hit, roof
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
go through the roof
Slang1. To grow, intensify, or rise to an enormous, often unexpected degree: Operating costs went through the roof last year.
2. To become extremely angry: When I told her about breaking the window, she went through the roof.
See also: go, roof, through
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
glass ceiling
An invisible barrier to promotion. This term was born in the women’s movement of the 1970s, when it became clear that in many organizations and businesses discrimination barred women and minorities from advancing beyond a certain point. It is well on its way to clichédom.
See also: ceiling, glass
hit the ceiling, to
To lose one’s temper. The image of rising with fury seems quite natural. This expression comes from early twentieth-century America and soon crossed the Atlantic. P. G. Wodehouse used it in Very Good, Jeeves! (1930): “I haven’t breathed a word to Angela. She’d hit the ceiling.” It echoes a locution dating from the sixteenth century, to be up in the house roof (or at the house-top), meaning to be enraged. See also raise the roof.
See also: hit
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- bamboo
- bamboo ceiling
- hit a wall
- Chinese wall
- at a dead end
- the answer to somebody's prayers
- the/an answer to (one's) prayer(s)
- bring (someone or something) to a dead end
- bring to a dead end
- draw the line