lesser mortal

lesser mortal (plural lesser mortals) (often used in the plural form)

1. A person of lower rank, station or ability.

   The better-off tend to look upon us as lesser mortals.

   • 1693, William Penn, Reflections and Maxims, no. 262, in A Collection of the Works of William Penn, London, 1726, Volume 1, p. 856,

     […] those higher Ranks of Men, are but Trustees of Heaven, for the Benefit of lesser Mortals, who, as Minors, are entituled to all their Care and Provision:

   • 1919, Jack London, On the Makaloa Mat, New York: Macmillan, p. 33,

     […] at the luaus (feasts) the forever never-ending luaus, I must be seated on Lilolilo’s Makaloa mat, the Prince’s mat, his alone and taboo to any lesser mortal save by his own condescension and desire.

   • 2003, Lionel Shriver, We Need to Talk about Kevin, London: 5-star, 2006, p. 345,

     In respect to Celia’s uncannily sunny disposition in Nyack Hospital, I swallowed many an admiring remark for seeming somehow indecorous, as if her improbable good nature were an affront to lesser mortals who quite reasonably wail from pain and grow irascible during convalescence.

• mere mortal

• steam rollers, steamrollers