great unwashed

The phrase "great unwashed" generally refers to the lower classes or the masses of people who are perceived to be poor, uneducated, or lacking refinement. It is often used in a derogatory or condescending manner to describe people who are considered to be socially or culturally inferior. The term can also be used figuratively to refer to a large, undifferentiated group that is seen as unrefined or uncultured.