working stiff

From working + stiff (“average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education”).[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈstɪf/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/
• Rhymes: -ɪf
• Hyphenation: work‧ing stiff

working stiff (plural working stiffs)

1. (originally US, informal) An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary.
   • 2018 November 14, Jesse Hassenger, “Disney Goes Viral with an Ambitious, Overstuffed Wreck-It Ralph Sequel”, in The A.V. Club‎, archived from the original on 21 November 2019:

     Now he spends his time off from work hanging out with his diminutive best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), the casual-dress princess hero of racing game Sugar Rush. Ralph enjoys life as a working stiff, though Vanellope is growing bored with her racing-world domination.

   • 2023 May 28, Robert Armstrong, “The world wobbles; the luxury industry strides on”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 21:

     The balance sheets of the middle class have improved as well. Good. But if working stiffs have come out OK, the richest have consolidated their gains.