fish rots from the head down
fish rots from the head down
Meaning | Synonyms
- It refers to failing organizations and how the blame of it should be on its ‘head’ that is its leadership.
- It does not talk about the biology of the fishes and should not be used as a literal meaning. This is because an actual fish starts to rot from its guts and not head according to piscine biology.
Example Sentences
- The company was bound to be closed sooner or later considering the kind of mangers that they had hired. A fish rots from the head down after all.
- A leader has to be of a strong will and good character otherwise as it is said, the fish rots from the head down. The whole organization would then have to suffer because of it.
- His maid servant doesn’t do anything as asked for. But the fish rots from the head down, look at how unorganized his own life is.
Origin
Although not certain, the origination of this proverb may be associated with Sir James Porter’s work that was published in 1768 called ‘Observations on the religion, law, government, and manners of the Turks’. It is a popularly used for big organizations nowadays instead of for individuals. But using it for individuals would not be wrong.
fool’s paradise ❯❮ call of the wild
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The Idioms Dictionary explains common English idioms that are popular worldwide, especially in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand.
8 Thoughts
All the people writing nasty comments about Pr Trump here are now hiding their faces, and maybe that’s because something smells fishy with the current administration which they voted for.
- Sally July 7, 2022
“It does not talk about the biology of the fishes and should not be used as a literal meaning. This is because an actual fish starts to rot from its guts and not head according to piscine biology.”
Thank you especially for caring to explain this fact. Information like this helps remain truthful.
- Rajib Sen February 19, 2021
This saying and Lies have short legs fits Trump to a tee to many suffer from rectal cranial inversion
- Feed up with Donald aka SFP January 27, 2020
Hee! Of course this fits President Trump perfectly. You’d have to be from a different planet to not know the man is an inveterate liar. Defending his sense of honesty unfortunately brands you as unable to discern fact from fiction. And therein lies the danger to our nation posed by the Trump Base. And yes, they are exceedingly base.
- Dan Wedin January 26, 2020
We use this “proverb” in the Greek culture and I strongly disagree that this “proverb” would in anyway pertain to President Trump, who is constantly attacked by the media and ‘regressives’.
- Joyful July 24, 2019
DEDICATE THIS PROVERB TO OUR CURRENT ASS PRESIDENT, ‘trump’.
HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT SPECIES FOR OTHERS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THIS PHRASE ………
LOVE IT —— THE PHRASE, OF COURSE ! …………….
- Janet March 23, 2019
The Famous Persian (Farsi) beloved poet Rumi originated this. But it is more exciting than the known mere translation.
The word he used for rotting is GNDH in Farsi.
You can pronounce GNDH in 2 ways:
1) GaNDeH (Rots)
2) GoNDeH (Grows / Gets Bigger)
He knew what he was doing as he was a master of literature and intended the double meaning.
So the actual half-verse (part of a major piece) he wrote in Farsi and often used by Iranians for many centuries for bad/good leadership is:
“The Fish Rots/Grows From the head, not from tail”
It is pronounced alternatively to mean bad or good leaders, most often though if not always, it is used to criticise and is pronounced GaNDeH meaning rotting from the head.
- Kassra October 24, 2018
The company was bound to be closed sooner or later considering the kind of !!mangers!! that they had hired. A fish rots from the head down after all. Можливо ви мали на увазі MANAGERS?
- Наталя April 18, 2017