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Region: General | Usage example: When the CEO lied about profits, it proved a fish rots from the head down.

A fish rots from the head down

Meaning

Leadership problems tend to infect the whole group.

Usage

Used to point to bad leaders when blaming an organization.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Fishermen noticed spoilage beginning at a fish head, so it symbolized leadership decay.

Appears in moral tracts and political critiques since the 1800s.

Related Idioms

Keep your head down

Avoid drawing attention, especially in difficult situations.

Head in the sand

Ignore obvious problems in hopes they disappear

Down to the wire

Until the very last moment.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.