Being “well to do”

[iamruth]

If you describe someone as being “well to do” what do you mean? Or what would you take it to mean?

It's not a term I would use but I think it generally means posh.

Monied, I suppose. 'Well heeled'.

‘Well to do’ usually means well off financially.

Posh and likes to think they're a cut above everyone else. Like a lady who makes jams for the WI out of apples from her tree the gardener has pruned and looks down on the ladies who have just baked a vicky sponge....

@LifesNotEnidBlyton

Posh and likes to think they're a cut above everyone else. Like a lady who makes jams for the WI out of apples from her tree the gardener has pruned and looks down on the ladies who have just baked a vicky sponge....

this made me laugh!

Posh and likes to think they're a cut above everyone else. Like a lady who makes jams for the WI out of apples from her tree the gardener has pruned and looks down on the ladies who have just baked a vicky sponge.... winkwink.

Haha perfect.

Just well off.

Comfortably financed.

Prosperous.

@LifesNotEnidBlyton

Posh and likes to think they're a cut above everyone else. Like a lady who makes jams for the WI out of apples from her tree the gardener has pruned and looks down on the ladies who have just baked a vicky sponge....

I was going to say monied, but actually this has it bang on!

I think of it as meaning financially well off more than having a posh lifestyle/personality/attitude.

Well-to-do = Hyacinth Bucket 😂

It also infers old money and connections - but not loaded.

I’d think comfortably off financially, but more than that well-versed in social niceties, cultured and educated.

I don’t think it’s about having money, maybe old money, more about the way people are or behave. I used to work in a shop years ago used by a lot of landed gentry types. They weren’t obviously well off in a flashy sense but had a way about them. They had well worn good quality clothes, quietly confident, very well spoken and well mannered. I always felt very comfortable serving them and they always treated me well.

I think of it as old-money too...which might not mean that they have much money now, but their parents/ancestors did at some point.

Affluent.

Well off financially but not full blown rich.

@LifesNotEnidBlyton

Posh and likes to think they're a cut above everyone else. Like a lady who makes jams for the WI out of apples from her tree the gardener has pruned and looks down on the ladies who have just baked a vicky sponge....

Totally this! Couldn't have put it better myself!

Agree, not necessarily obscenely rich but big on etiquette and nobility, well connected.

I would think of it as meaning comfortably rich but not mega-rich. So a large house, some nice cars and maybe a holiday home, but not private jet and yacht territory .

I remember my Aunt and Uncle thought they "were well to do " they bought their council house in the 80s and shopped in marks and Spencers oh and ate Alpen 😂

It’s a polite, somewhat old-fashioned euphemism for rich, but in a genteel, non-ostentatious way. Not a term I would use.

@Mrsjayy

I remember my Aunt and Uncle thought they "were well to do " they bought their council house in the 80s and shopped in marks and Spencers oh and ate Alpen 😂

Love this too!

Interesting that overall the phase seems to be more inclined towards negative connotations...

It’s an old fashioned term for someone who is fairly well off and fairly posh.