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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

nice guys finish last en · X

Pronunciation

Etymology

First appears in the US c. 1946, and condensed from a comment by the baseball manager Leo Durocher. The original quote was The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place. (1946 July 6), 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, hence giving the present form.

Meanings

  1. (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.
    • The size of his victory . . . contradicted the maxim of latter-day fellow Californian Leo Durocher, who once said positively: "Nice guys finish last." 1956 November 19, “National Affairs: Nice Guy Finishes First”, in Time:
    • Nonetheless, a team of business experts claims to have proved the pessimistic notion that "nice guys finish last" – at least where money is concerned. 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 Jul 2012:
    • "He can be as moderate as he likes. Nobody else will be. In Washington these days, 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 Jul 2012:

Relateds

the good die young · war makes thieves, and peace hangs them

Translations (3)

fr qui se fait brebis le loup le mange (people who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed) · ast el gochu más ruin ye'l que más revuelve na cubil (people who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed) · hu a rendesek végeznek mindig az utolsó helyen (people who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed)

wikipedia: 1946 New York Giants (MLB) season · wikipedia: Leo Durocher