The idiom "from rags to riches" has been used for centuries to describe a remarkable journey of transformation and success. It originates from the contrast between poverty "rags" and wealth or prosperity "riches". It is used to describe a significant upward social or financial mobility, where someone starts with very little or in poverty and achieves remarkable success, often involving significant wealth and prosperity.

What is the origin of the idiom "from rags to riches" and when to use it?

from rags to riches

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZnJvbSByYWdzIHRvIHJpY2hlcw&hash=8c1f012ea0e5f9d8f9205439161c6d17be969221&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZnJvbSByYWdzIHRvIHJpY2hlcw&hash=1570b1a4c04d99e6f2f596c04b1af1e0b0760297&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

philanthropy

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cGhpbGFudGhyb3B5&hash=3248a415612ae6bce5bbf57d938f2ec118c71d91&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cGhpbGFudGhyb3B5&hash=43a6a83e14bb8660484a4c9455d6eda7af2363aa&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

charity

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y2hhcml0eQ&hash=3193ea8bbbac9b5c2e62fc486b6781f5d0c987ed&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y2hhcml0eQ&hash=26626c3f4d06b33c681f8d2d4dfcca2f69f8125b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

interest

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=aW50ZXJlc3Q&hash=8462acba7209ddf78285a57c5736d62958b609db&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=aW50ZXJlc3Q&hash=5a9ae2c5368b15c4f987f303c96a9a945c548351&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to invest

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaW52ZXN0&hash=fe26fef419a05bf49be9907f2a357e92e1013beb&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaW52ZXN0&hash=d9792a2bd93b21d2e5accface685e5e36f0b5a64&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to dedicate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZGVkaWNhdGU&hash=fd4620901c0bb866f6e1cb30048529eb635c8970&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZGVkaWNhdGU&hash=e3d7517442e3c0a5c8ceef6a532db4530a9ae8ce&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

fund

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZnVuZA&hash=325474bfed84358b623598abd7b4185ff2a97cc1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZnVuZA&hash=22e6ed13fea56cd1edc3b9467a873088e0c4dc87&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to eradicate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZXJhZGljYXRl&hash=a954916621df8a36d63d18933fa4658e2f76b2b8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZXJhZGljYXRl&hash=bd6abfc71f3cac6d92463e938a709f7cf809bb63&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

donation

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZG9uYXRpb24&hash=04a0b4601102ca862894502a08d1ae26baa7492f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZG9uYXRpb24&hash=3c2eeba1454b0a6c97bd9e70561d10bca9fed0de&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

welfare

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=d2VsZmFyZQ&hash=08711119b754958d04348ad3d41b280d29349389&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=d2VsZmFyZQ&hash=d2ec82073222e5e4d473c23d959deec81d209381&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to amass

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYW1hc3M&hash=355fbaf8a822520a3baca1d2b479662f879f1fbf&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYW1hc3M&hash=c86648c44fb35d7fd1f16cd483d4974dea67035b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

fortune

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Zm9ydHVuZQ&hash=dc6545a33fdd5c4ded02c8d45c5cec1e0bdc61e6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Zm9ydHVuZQ&hash=2772a1fb5428d52e8ec5be63e9bffb59aa08d0f7&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to put back

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IGJhY2s&hash=2d2513d18264c6e1cd8fa77388352356fb746be1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHV0IGJhY2s&hash=0a41ca8e23f3c5d0324acc676e3cea05facb1110&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

Here you will find the vocabulary from Unit 5 - Lesson 2 in the Total English Advanced coursebook, such as "philanthropy", "invest", "eradicate", etc.

Vocabulaire de l'unité 5 - leçon 2 de Total English Advanced