The fish stinks from the head
Posted: August 26, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Barbara Boxer, Chris Hayes, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, MSNBC, stinks to high heaven, the fish rots from the head down, Trump, words 3 CommentsSenator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) uttered this on the Chris Hayes show (Ali Velshi filling in) the other night, referring to Trump. She said, “The Italians have an expression ‘the fish stinks from the head’.” Well, actually, the expression is “the fish rots from the head down”, meaning bad leaders damage an organization, and her comment mixes the idiom “stink to high heaven”, meaning to be or seem extremely corrupt or disreputable. Rotting sure gives off a stink so it is understandable that the speaker got confused. Another big thank you to Frank King, our MSNBC Malaphor Reporter.
Hi there, just a little thing: In German we actually DO say “The fish stinks from the head.” Maybe she mixed the countries up..? It means exactly the same thing as the Italian expression: If a system is bad, it’s probably because the people on top are bad.
Thanks! A malaphor in one country can be an accepted idiom in another. Who knew? Will post this for everyone. Thanks again. Dave
The original Italian motto, “Il pesce puzza dalla testa”, literally translates as “The fish stinks from the head.” The customary English translation *explains* that as “The fish rots from the head down.” (Sen. Boxer was not confused.)