Quote:
Originally Posted by Phogg
If the term "fat cats" was ever reserved for those who did little to earn their wealth it was before the 1960s when I came along. During my lifetime it has been a general use pejorative for people with money. It is, however generally used by people who assert (in the face of any evidence to the contrary) that having wealth is de facto proof of having cheated someone.
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I was not aware of any implicit negative connotation to "fat cat" other than the fact that it's typically used by the "have-nots" to describe the "haves." That is, it's unlikely that one billionaire businessman would describe another as a fat cat to other billionaires.
Personally, while I never thought of the term implying that the person did little to earn their wealth, I always took it to mean that they NO LONGER need to worry about earning, they can sit back and enjoy the power of their position, just like a literal fat cat can contentedly spend it's day napping rather than having to fight for scraps in the alley.
OK, as you were.