Word for the Wise

October 19, 2007 Broadcast

Topic: A fish rots from the head down

We were contacted by a fellow curious about the metaphor a fish rots from the head down. To say that a fish rots from the head down is to say that "bad leadership leads to a bad organization or that a corrupt organization is the result of a corrupt ruler or leader."

Our correspondent's research had turned up claims that the fish rotting figure of speech is found (and perhaps originated) in languages ranging from Chinese to Russian. While we're willing to acknowledge corruption or poor management is found in communist bureaucracies, we are not certain we want to trace back that phrase to a particular political philosophy.

Instead, we'll put that particular kettle of fish on the back burner and turn our attention back to the history of the phrase.

According to a magazine article published by FastCompany.com, a professor who specializes in proverbs has counted more than 30 translations worldwide of the fish rotting from the head down line. He has also sniffed out what he believes is the earliest known print appearance of the English version of the phrase; it traces back to the 1674 publication, An Account of the Voyage to New England.

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.