2006-08-19 02:43:20 · 8 answers · asked by alicatz 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
it's a social-economic thing.
if you are poor, saying "how the other half lives" either means you want to know how rich ppl live, and want to aspire; or sometimes it's merely sarcasm ridiculing rich ppl.
if you are rich, saying "how the other half lives" means you don't ever want to be poor. and when said by the rich, it's always with a negative attitude.
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btw, check out this photo
http://www.nychinatown.org/history/photos/sunshadowmed.jpg
The frontispiece from "Sunshine and Shadow", a book depicting the two halves of New York City; one "wealthy and orderly", the other "poor and rowdy". By Matthew Hale Smith, publ 1869.
The top illustration depicts Alexander T. Stewart's (retailing giant) mansion on Fifth Avenue built in 1869, the bottom illustration of the Old Brewery tenement house at the Five Points.
2006-08-19 02:51:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. "the other half" is supposed to represent the affluent half. I think it should be changed to "how the 5% live".
In context:
Roger: "Man, I'm having a rough time of it."
Sam: "Yeah, I sure would like to see how the other 5% live!"
2006-08-19 02:56:51 · answer #2 · answered by Wurm™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old "Haves-vs-have nots" problem where hose who are poor can do little else but ogle at the lifestyles of the rich and famous and dream of a better future and life for their children through education, hard work and luck.
2006-08-19 02:49:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it usually is the poor man referring to the well off a h that sits next to him on the tube and blows about what hes got and how easy it is for to just swan away from work on his umpteenth holiday this year. lucky sods o how the other half live!
2006-08-19 06:44:36 · answer #4 · answered by auntylndy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other half is family life, the other half is working life, or other half can a hidden part of the life, or about the spouse life..
2006-08-19 02:51:53 · answer #5 · answered by Drone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means how rich people live - mansions, servants and personal staff. Lifestyles, of the rich and shameless!
2006-08-19 02:49:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually people who are very arrogant and condescing say things like that in order to belittle everyone else.
2006-08-19 02:48:51 · answer #7 · answered by Philbert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Haves and the Have-Nots
2006-08-19 03:23:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋