Infra dig

The expression infra dig is an abbreviated form of the Latin infra dignitatem, which means 'beneath (his/her/their) dignity'. It is used, always postpositively, to say of a person's acting or being treated in a certain way that it is or would be incompatible with their (high) position or status, as in such sentences as 'You can't expect the Vice-chancellor to drive himself to the ceremony: it would be so infra dig' or 'John always travels First Class on the train: he thinks that it would be infra dig for him to do otherwise'. The expression is used only in British English and in casual speech - often sarcastically, of those who have an inflated sense of their status or position, as in 'Of course, since his promotion it's become infra dig for James to go for a drink with his old colleagues'.