Foreign Phrases April 1987

Trevor Leggett was head of the Japanese Department of the BBC.

This is one of his broadcasts to Japan

Zubari for April 1987

Hello listeners! Today I am going to say something about ‘foreign phrases’ which seem strange to us at first, but which we later realise are true.

The French have a number of cynical sayings; when we English people first hear one, we think: ‘Oh, how biting! Human beings are not like that!’ But when we think it over, we realise that we ourselves are guilty of the same fault, and we begin to feel secretly ashamed.

Here is one such phrase. WHEN A MAN GETS POWER, HE SHOULD MISUSE HIS POWER A BIT: IF HE DOES NOT ABUSE HIS POWER SOMETIMES, HE DOES NOT EXIST.

When I first heard that, I thought: ‘How typically French!”

The idea is this: A man is put in a position of power: perhaps quite a small position. Suppose he is the new editor of the magazine of some small society. The members contribute articles, and he has to judge whether to print them, or reject them.

It is generally fairly easy to see which articles are good, and should be printed, and which are bad, and should be rejected. But if he simply prints the good ones, and rejects the bad ones, he is like a machine. He is like a sort of rubber stamp. Another person could do it quite as well.

So, he thinks sometimes: “Now here is a good article, by a member who is an expert in this subject, and who writes well. I ought to accept it and print it. BUT….. this member has not shown any special friendliness to me.  So, he has not pleased me.  His article is good, BUT…. He has not pleased me.  And when I am not pleased, I am….. difficult.”  So, the editor rejects the article. Perhaps it creates a small sensation. Perhaps the editor is criticised. But, at any rate, he EXISTS. The members know that this new editor is a difficult man.

When I thought over this French saying, I realised that I had myself sometimes behaved a little like that. And I conceded that the French saying had scored a point.

Another, rather bitter French phrase is: ALL HUSBANDS ARE UGLY. It means simply that after some time the wife has got used to her husband, and so does not appreciate him so much. In the same way, we get a new house or car, and for a time we think it most beautiful, but after a time we are used to it. Then the neighbour’s house looks more attractive.  And perhaps the neighbour would like our house.

A wise, and most useful, phrase from an Eastern country (India) can be really helpful in life: GET OUT BEFORE YOU ARE THROWN OUT.

Suppose there is a party which will continue all day, and to which many people are invited. My ticket is from 10am. till 12 midday. I go there and enjoy it. Now, I should leave, at midday.  But I am enjoying it so much, that I stay on. A servant tells me: “Sir, you should leave now,” but I remain. Then a higher ranking official tells me: “Sir, you must go now.” I still stay. Now comes a big fellow, who without any words simply throws me out.

I ought to have got out, quietly, before that happened.

In life sometimes, an old actor or musician continues to perform in public when he is no longer really capable of giving a good show. He knows he should go, but he does not do so. Finally, his shows become pathetic, and no one comes – leaving him in tears on the stage.

Some old business-men remain too long. In the end they are thrown out, either by failures, or a plot by their colleagues, or even by a sudden collapse. They should have calmly retired while still in health.

Parents hang on to their children sometimes, too long and tenaciously. In the end, the children can come to hate them.

Well listeners. The time for my broadcast is up – I will get out before the studio manager throws me out! Or you switch off!

Sayonara

© Trevor Leggett