codfish aristocracy

codfish aristocracy

A disparaging term for people who are recently rich. It was originally applied to the nouveau riche in 19th-century Boston. Primarily heard in US. I can't stand that members of the codfish aristocracy think that they belong at formal occasions with the more established families.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • robber baron
  • damn Yankee
  • Yankee
  • chip
  • chips
  • up on (one's) ear
  • a fat cat
References in periodicals archive
Cavalier families sent their sons there, and the college proudly turned up its nose at the codfish aristocracy of Harvard.