to the manor born
Bred for wealth
To the manor born describes someone naturally suited to wealth, privilege, or high social position—as if born into an aristocratic estate.
The phrase suggests effortless comfort with luxury or status: She handled the formal dinner to the manor born.
Often confused with "to the manner born," Shakespeare's original phrase in *Hamlet*, which meant accustomed to a custom from birth.
Both versions now circulate, with "manor" emphasizing class privilege and "manner" emphasizing habitual familiarity.
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- in one's elementIdeally suited to surroundings
- hereditary privilegeAdvantage conferred by birth
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- gentryHighborn but not noble
patrician · good breeding · elegance · bred in the bone · blue blood · opulence · propriety · elite · high society · decorum · affluence · leisure class · trust fund · aristocrat · fit like a glove · peerage · tailor-made · silver spoon
to the manor bornlowborn
Of humble origin
born in a barn · common · baseborn · plebeian · working-class
to the manor bornself-made
Successful through own efforts
nouveau riche · new money · rags to riches · arriviste · parvenu
to the manor bornself-made
Successful through own efforts
nouveau riche · working-class · rags-to-riches · parvenu · social climber