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hoi poloi

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big yankee | 09:44 Tue 22nd Jul 2003 | Phrases & Sayings
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where does 'hoi poloi' come from?
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Avatar Image Quizmonster
It is Greek for 'the many'. That is, it means the common herd, as it were...the vulgar mob. For some reason - perhaps because 'hoi' sounds rather like 'high' - some people think it means 'the high and mighty', the exact opposite of its actual meaning!
10:49 Tue 22nd Jul 2003
Avatar Image Moog
Qm's answer shows why it is incorrect to refer to a group of people as The Hoi Poloi as the Hoi part means The so you are in effect saying The The Many! [bit like an ATM machine as mentioned elsewhere on this site]
11:05 Tue 22nd Jul 2003
Avatar Image Ewood27
And "PIN numbers".
08:51 Wed 23rd Jul 2003

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