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What's the origin of the phrase 'A fish rots from the head down'? This proverb is of ancient origin but precisely which of the ancients coined it is probably beyond our ken at this distant remove. Many countries lay claim to it.
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The expression, “The fish rots from the head,” means that when you remove the leader, the group, employees, or followers don’t know what to do and disband. Without the leadership guiding the rest of the associates, the organization has no direction or drive. It’s a common phrase used to describe the destruction of illegal crime syndicates, like the...
“Did you hear that they got that mob boss the other day? Now it’s a matter of time before his organization falls apart and there’s a gang war. The fish rots from the head.” “The fish rots from the head. Take out the leader, and the rest of the pack will slowly dissipate into nothing but roaming fools.” “The fish rots from the head sounds like it’s ...
The expression “The fish rots from the head” originates from the original version of “a fish stinks from the head down.” Language experts believe the phrase comes from Turkey and the domination of the Turkish empire over the middle eastern region. Sir James Porter compiled a set of observations on the Turkish people’s law, religion, government, and...
The expression has nothing to do with rotting fish. The fish is an organization, illegal or legal, and the head is the head of the organization. This phrase has nothing to do with fishing, eating, or selling fish.
You can use “the fish rots from the head” to describe how an organization will fall apart after you remove its leader. There are several memes online referring to the collapse of the GOP after Donald Trump lost the race for a second presidential term. However, it’s a good way to visualize the meaning of the saying. It’s usually a politically-motiva...
Learn the meaning and origin of the expression "the fish rots from the head", which means that an organization will fall apart after removing its leader. See examples, similar and opposite phrases, and common mistakes.
Learn the meaning and origin of the idiom fish rots from the head down, which means a bad leader will cause an organization to deteriorate. See examples of how to use this phrase in different contexts and situations.
Dec 17, 2023 · Most often, it is attributed to the ancient Greek scientist and writer Plutarch, who lived at the end of the 1st-beginning of the 2nd century AD. Presumably, the expression "the fish rots from the head", the meaning of which originally had a figurative meaning, is found in the voluminous work of the ancient philosopher "Comparative Lives".
Jul 24, 2019 · Learn the meaning and origin of the proverb "fish rots from the head down", which means that poor leadership leads to the decline of an organization. See how this phrase is used in different cultures and contexts, and read some example sentences.
The origin of the idiom "fish rots from the head down" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 17th century. It may have originally referred to fish that are infected with a virus or bacterium that spreads throughout their bodies, causing them to deteriorate and rot from the head down.
Oct 30, 2022 · Learn the meaning and usage of the proverb "a fish rots from the head down", which blames leadership for organizational or national failures. Find out the possible origin of this saying and some alternative expressions.
