nice guys finish last
English edit
Etymology edit
US 1946, condensed from a comment by a baseball manager Leo Durocher.[1] The original quote was “The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place.” (1946 July 6),[2][1] about the 1946 New York Giants — seventh place was next-to-last place in the National League. This was shortly afterwards rendered as “‘Nice Guys’ Wind Up in Last Place, Scoffs Lippy”,[3] hence giving the present form.[1]
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Proverb edit
- (idiomatic) People who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed by others who are not so decent, friendly, or agreeable.
- 1956 November 19, “National Affairs: Nice Guy Finishes First”, in Time:
- The size of his victory . . . contradicted the maxim of latter-day fellow Californian Leo Durocher, who once said positively: "Nice guys finish last."
- 1998 March 23, Seth Schiesel, “All Too Soon, New F.C.C. Chief Finds Warm Welcome Is Cooling”, in New York Times, retrieved 10 July 2012:
- "He can be as moderate as he likes. Nobody else will be. In Washington these days, nice guys finish last."
- 2011 December 5, Richard Hall, “I didn't get where I am today by being nice... Study reveals agreeable men earn £4,500 less than their ruthless colleagues”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 10 July 2012:
- Nonetheless, a team of business experts claims to have proved the pessimistic notion that "nice guys finish last" – at least where money is concerned.
Usage notes edit
- Often expressed in a cynical manner.
Translations edit
people who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed
See also edit
References edit
- “nice guys finish last”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.