social ladder

social ladder – n. Metaphorical ladder that nonlosers are continuously trying to climb. analogy The social ladder is like Mount Everest: Lots of people try to climb (be popular), but few reach the top (become popular). At any point you can fall into a crevice (fall off the ladder), or fall victim to hypothermia, starvation, fratricide, etc. (drugs, alcohol, fratricide, etc.) and die (die). Also, getting to the top is completely pointless, unless you really want your name to be known. Except that nobody remembers who climbed Mount Everest anyway.