climb the corporate ladder 

To move up in the hierarchy of a corporation.

A 'ladder' is a device with steps used to 'climb' (or move) up and down, so the 'corporate ladder' is the series of steps people go through as they gain more power in a corporation and 'rise to the top' - from file clerk up to president.

You have to work very hard if you want to climb the corporate ladder.

climb the corporate ladder by VAKI5 May 14, 2005

social ladder

social ladder – n. Metaphorical ladder that nonlosers are continuously trying to climb.
analogy The social ladder is like Mount Everest: Lots of people try to climb (be popular), but few reach the top (become popular). At any point you can fall into a crevice (fall off the ladder), or fall victim to hypothermia, starvation, fratricide, etc. (drugs, alcohol, fratricide, etc.) and die (die). Also, getting to the top is completely pointless, unless you really want your name to be known. Except that nobody remembers who climbed Mount Everest anyway.

see my definition of loser

social ladder by cardenio April 6, 2005

Jacob’s Ladder 

Jacob’s ladder is a metaphor for an existential dilemma based on a perceived future being unseen to previous awareness, because each part is tied in place, ideally the way the toy works is a top plank cascading into the others all mechanized by the interweaving ribbons.

“That movie she showed us, Jacob’s Ladder, was pretty intense,”
“Yeah, seemed like a real mind f**k,”

Jacob’s Ladder by Oneyouknow July 23, 2018

Friend Ladder 

This is the friend zone of the ladder theory. A typical guy on your friend ladder possesses any/all of the following characteristics: virgin, girldump, geek, wuss, and is used by women for emotional support while not getting any pussy in return. The girl's excuse: "Aw he's too nice, I could never fuck him".

"He spent all month trying to talk her up to a date, not realising he was on her friend ladder long before".

Friend Ladder by Saf1 January 25, 2009

jacob's ladder 

i piercing that goes up the to head of the penis making it look like a ladder

damn did you see that dude!!! at the fetish club he had a jacobs ladder

holy shit!!!!!!!!!!! that must of hurt

jacob's ladder by AWS June 20, 2003

Tater Ladder

When one person gets upon the shoulders of another while completely naked and then proceeds to take a shit down the others back.

JJ gave me my first tater ladder last night....best night ever!

Tater Ladder by hungeryum November 21, 2011

Date ladder 

When you date a semi-beautiful person, which causes a slightly more semi-beautiful person to take interest in wanting to date you, until you are a sweet 6 with a perfect 10, and make people ask how you landed him/her.

She could be a good date ladder for you and get that other girl to ask herself what is she missing by not dating you.

Date ladder by WordsofWisdomFrom December 8, 2021