the organ grinder, not the monkey

名词 n.
中文释义
英 /ðiː ˈɔːɡən ˌɡɹaɪndə nɒt ðə ˈmʌŋki/    美 /ði ˈɔɹɡən ˌɡɹaɪndəɹ nɑt ðə ˈmʌŋki/

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. Synonym of organ grinder (“the person who is in charge, rather than a lackey or representative; the person truly responsible for another's actions”). idiomatic
    — If my hon. Friend said that the headquarters of the Board was to be situated in one of the regions, that would be some help. We need more than branch offices and subsidiaries. We want the organ grinders, not the monkeys.

词形变化

the organ grinders, not the monkeys plural the organ-grinder, not the monkey alternative

词源

From the common 19th-century practice of organ grinders training monkeys to dance to music played on a barrel organ in order to perform on the street and solicit donations.
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