Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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phrase
If only somebody at the top of an abusive hierarchy were aware of the abuses, they would take action to stop them.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: sarcastic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
A phrase attributed to Russian peasants who suffered mistreatment in the tsarist era. Peasants in the tsarist era often attributed their misfortunes to the aristocracy and imperial administration, believing the tsar did not know of injustices being committed and, if he did, would immediately correct them. Compare good tsar, bad boyars and German wenn das der Führer wüsste.
