greasy pole
Lard-coated vertical contest
A greasy pole is a pole coated with grease or oil, set up as a contest where participants try to climb it or walk across it—the slipperiness making success difficult and falls amusing.
Figuratively, the greasy pole is the slippery climb to success in competitive fields, especially politics: He's been climbing the greasy pole for twenty years.
Ascending by physical effort
- fairgroundOutdoor amusement venue
- prizeReward for winning
- festivalOrganized public celebration
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
contestants · spectators · slippery · balance · grip · dexterity · funfair · laughter
Ascending by physical effort
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- ladderPortable climbing frame
- corporateOf or relating to companies
competition · ambition · success · struggle · networking · executive · tenacity · striving
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- precariousDangerously insecure
- elusiveHard to find
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
frustrating · futile · impossible · challenging · treacherous · unstable · uncertain · risky
climbing
Ascending by physical effort
- fairgroundOutdoor amusement venue
- prizeReward for winning
- festivalOrganized public celebration
competition · contestants · spectators · slippery · balance · grip · dexterity · funfair · laughter · struggle
climbing
Ascending by physical effort
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- ladderPortable climbing frame
corporate · competition · ambition · success · struggle · networking · executive · tenacity · striving · aspiration
slippery
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- precariousDangerously insecure
- elusiveHard to find
unattainable · frustrating · futile · impossible · challenging · treacherous · unstable · uncertain · risky · hazardous
- folk sportshighland games, Highland games, hurling, shinty, Gaelic football
- county fairferris wheel, cotton candy, carousel, funnel cake, corn dogs
greasy polesolid ground
Stable surface beneath
firm footing · stable · secure · safe harbor · safe
greasy poleladder
Portable climbing frame
clear path · escalator · level playing field · career ladder · fast track
greasy polemeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
level playing field · rising tide · mutual aid · helping hand · fair shake
greasy, pole, grease, poles, greased, greasing, greasier, greasiest, greasiness