The tail wagging the dog
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the tail [is] wagging the dog

"the tail wagging the dog"의 정의 및 의미

the tail wagging the dog
01

used to refer to a situation in which a person or thing that is important or powerful is being led or controlled by a significantly less powerful or important person or thing

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DisapprovingDisapproving
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InformalInformal

What is the origin of the idiom "the tail wagging the dog" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "the tail wagging the dog" can be traced back to a political context in the United States. It is commonly attributed to the American journalist and humorist Charles G. Conn, who used the phrase in an article he wrote for The Chicago Tribune in 1895. Conn used the metaphor to criticize a situation where a minor issue or faction was exerting disproportionate influence over a larger group or organization. It is commonly used to critique imbalanced power dynamics, decision-making processes, or instances where a minor detail or factor has a disproportionate impact on the overall outcome.

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The media coverage focused so much on a trivial controversy that it became a case of the tail wagging the dog, overshadowing the more significant issues at hand.
The demands of a small interest group have become the tail wagging the dog in the political landscape, distorting policies that should reflect the broader public interest.
In this company, it feels like the marketing department is the tail wagging the dog, as their demands and preferences dictate the overall business strategy.
example
The media coverage focused so much on a trivial controversy that it became a case of the tail wagging the dog, overshadowing the more significant issues at hand.
The demands of a small interest group have become the tail wagging the dog in the political landscape, distorting policies that should reflect the broader public interest.
In this company, it feels like the marketing department is the tail wagging the dog, as their demands and preferences dictate the overall business strategy.
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