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The background for this question is that I'm watching the latest episode of NCIS, and in this episode it is mentioned that the term "Low on the totem pole" actually is a good thing, reserved for the most honored carvings. As such, saying that someone is "pretty low on the totem pole" is a compliment, not a way of saying that you're low on rank or importance.

However, I haven't been able to find any sources online that says the same, and it seems most usages of the term use it in the meaning I thought it had, ie. low importance, rank, or similar.

So what is right?

Does the term "low on the totem pole" mean "low importance or rank", or does it mean "high importance or rank"?

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    The term isn't American Indian in origin, it merely uses imagery taken from the popular (and slightly incorrect) view of American Indian culture.
    – user1579
    Commented Apr 7, 2011 at 17:35
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    It's a good question, but my preference is to just stop using the confused cliché altogether.
    – jbelacqua
    Commented Apr 8, 2011 at 0:21
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    It's good to know the real indegenous meaning and use of the images on real-life totem poles. However, nearly every cliche has major issues with it if you look hard enough. This cliche is just too useful for me to give up.
    – T.E.D.
    Commented Oct 4, 2011 at 23:04
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    I have always understood the expression in the conventional vernacular sense, but today I happened to use the expression in conversation with someone who is of native American background. I got the clear impression she considered it to be culturally insensitive for me to use the expression. From my point of view, I was simply using an expression that I have grown up with. I would like to understand her point of view, and whether, in general, it is considered by native Americans to be an inappropriate, insensitive, and/or insulting expression.
    – user35805
    Commented Jan 15, 2013 at 23:58
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    Max: Some people are just collectors of things that offend them. Don't worry too much about them.
    – user32047
    Commented May 15, 2013 at 11:41

5 Answers 5

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From Wikipedia:

Vertical order of images is widely believed to be a significant representation of importance. This idea is so pervasive that it has entered into common parlance with the phrase "low man on the totem pole." This phrase is indicative of the most common belief of ordering importance, that the higher figures on the pole are more important or prestigious. A counterargument frequently heard is that figures are arranged in a "reverse hierarchy" style, with the most important representations being on the bottom, and the least important being on top. Actually, [among Native American totem poles], there have never been any restrictions on vertical order -- many poles have significant figures on the top, others on the bottom, and some in the middle. Other poles have no vertical arrangement at all, consisting of a lone figure atop an undecorated column.

Regardless of the origin, the term "low man on the totem pole" is generally understood to mean LEAST important. Using it to mean most important would probably just lead to confusion.

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    OK, thanks, I take your answer as saying that the idiom conveys low rank or importance by convention, not by definition, since there doesn't seem to be a clear original meaning of it. Did I get that right?
    – Lasse V. Karlsen
    Commented Apr 7, 2011 at 17:30
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    Yep. That's about it.
    – Kevin
    Commented Apr 7, 2011 at 17:31
  • A similar phrase is, "low rung on the ladder."
    – MrHen
    Commented Apr 7, 2011 at 17:50
  • @Kevin I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on Dyani1891's answer that contradicts yours.
    – ErikE
    Commented Nov 27, 2012 at 9:49
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    @Kris the other answers haven't changed in two years, so I think I'll keep mine as it is as well. Unless you can provide something to show that the phrase "low on the totem pole" is used to mean something different than what my answer says.
    – Kevin
    Commented May 15, 2013 at 18:34
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I study and carve Northwest Coast design or what you call totemic designs. My family comes from the region as well. The phrase "low man on the totem pole" is indeed taken the wrong way all the time. The most revered or "main" character of the story being told is the lowest or closest to earth. You want to show respect by it being closest to you. If you see people on the top of totem poles, it is most definitely not a sign of honor, it is shame, calling them "Shame Poles." The least favored/honored of the story is always on the top. I hope this assists you in solving any mysteries on this misunderstood saying.

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  • Do you have any thoughts on Kevin's answer, which states that position does not confer any significance?
    – ErikE
    Commented Nov 27, 2012 at 9:50
  • "Low man on the totem pole." Closest to the earth....The strength to hold up the rest....The one with the most balance to support all others."
    – user44260
    Commented May 15, 2013 at 0:30
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As generally used, "low on the totem pole" means at the bottom of a heirarchy, hence low in rank. There are similar sayings about relative position on a ladder. As one is promoted (rises in rank), one ascends the ladder. I was unaware that the real totem pole reverses that order.

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  • “The real totem pole does not reverse the order. The misused idiom reverses the correct hierarchy in the real totem pole.” (The preceding was incorrectly suggested (and worse, approved) as an edit, rather than as added as a comment.)
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Commented Feb 18, 2015 at 23:35
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There is a resource about the low man on the totem pole.

In it, it explains that the highest part of the totem pole was carved by the least experienced carver, because the lower parts of the pole are the parts that are most likely to be viewed, thus:

...the bottom of all totem pole is sometimes the best carved part of the whole pole. Meaning wise, the low man has a much or more meaning than other figures.

So while the general meaning seems to be that higher is better, traditionally for totem poles - as is explained by NCIS - lower is better.

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  • could you take the time to form an actual answer from this? If not, I'll happily edit your answer to add in the salient points from the link you've posted.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Oct 5, 2011 at 14:21
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Well, there is always some confusion about this idiom here. This idiom was introduced by an American named Fred Allen some where in the mid 1940s. He actually used it to depict something of least importance, which was evidently proved to be wrong, as a Totem pole in reality holds the most important ones in the lower order.

So if you go by what the idiom was actually supposed to mean, it would denote something of lower importance as mentioned by PSU and Kevin. Rather if you go by its meaning in literal sense, it would denote that of higher importance.

However, I would personally prefer using it to denote something of higher importance. (It is strictly a matter of personal opinion though)

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    "An American named Fred Allen"? That's rather like saying, "a Brit named Laurence Olivier".
    – Michael Lorton
    Commented Nov 27, 2012 at 2:03
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    It is not matter of personal opinion if you want to be understood.
    – hunter2
    Commented Jul 5, 2013 at 6:10

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