bottom of the ladder
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Lowest or most junior position in a hierarchy. For example, If we hire you, you'll have to begin at the bottom of the ladder. The rungs of a ladder have been likened to a step-wise progression since the 14th century. Also see low man on the totem pole.
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Words nearby bottom of the ladder
bottomless pit, bottom line, bottom-liner, bottommost, bottom of the barrel, bottom of the ladder, bottom-of-the-line, bottom out, bottom quark, bottom round, bottomry
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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