The idiom "rags-to-riches" is commonly used to describe a person who starts their life in poverty and achieves great success in their career or personal life. There are several synonyms for this phrase including "from nothing to something", "upward mobility", "climbing the ladder of success", "self-made", "from the bottom to the top", and "pulling oneself up by their bootstraps". Each of these phrases highlights the idea of overcoming adversity and achieving success through hard work and determination. These synonyms can be used interchangeably with "rags-to-riches" to describe a person's journey from poverty to success in any field.