the herd
Cattle moving together
The herd refers dismissively to ordinary people who follow popular opinion without independent thought.
Someone who criticizes the herd or herd mentality implies that most people lack the courage or intelligence to think for themselves, instead moving together like cattle or sheep.
The phrase carries an elitist connotation, suggesting the speaker considers themselves above such conformity.
He refused to follow the herd on investment trends.
- great unwashedContemptuous term for commoners
- hoi polloiThe common masses
- massesBulk or populace
- common peopleNon-elite members of society
- commonersOrdinary citizens, untitled
average Joe · mob · hive mind · groupthink · lemmings · sheeple · follow the crowd · flock · crowd · stampede · collective · drove · safety in numbers · conformity · cattle · plebeians · pack · rabble