Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

upstairs-downstairs

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.49 in modern English

Syllables: up-stairs--down-stairs
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

5

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Involving or relating to divisions or relations between different social classes, especially domestic servants and their upper-class employers.

Example Sentences

"In Gilded-Age Newport, an upstairs-downstairs romance between a well-born son and a humble maid is cut short of marriage."
"How different the thrust of a college education is today. It is broadly accessible and egalitarian. But an upstairs-downstairs syndrome still exists in American higher education."

Etymology

From the practice of servants living on the lower floors or basements of grand houses, while their employers live on the upper floors.

Questions

What does upstairs-downstairs mean?: Involving or relating to divisions or relations between different social classes, especially domestic servants and their upper-class employers.
Where does upstairs-downstairs come from?: From the practice of servants living on the lower floors or basements of grand houses, while their employers live on the upper floors.

How to pronounce upstairs-downstairs

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