what does the expression "the tale that wags the dog" mean. When is it appropriate to use it?

Answer 1

The phrase "the tail that wags the dog" dates to the turn of the century. In 1907, it appeared in Von Arnum's Fraulein Schmidt. F. Scott Fitzgerald used it in 1935. The meaning is quite obvious, the subsidiary part is controlling the major part. In its most current usage, the case is of the media creating the crisis instead of the crisis generating media interest.

You should watch this movie



Wag the Dog (1997)
Directed by
Barry Levinson
Starring dustin Hoffman
Robert De Niro

After being caught in a scandalous situation days before the election, the president does not seem to have much of a chance of being re-elected. One of his advisors (DeNiro) contacts a top Hollywood producer (Hoffman) in order to manufacture a war in Albania that the president can heroically end, all through mass media.

It's really funny and illustrates the concept of wagging the dog very well..

Answer 2

Tail Wagging The Dog

Answer 3

It's "The **tail** that wags the dog". It is akin to "putting the cart before the horse".

It means that the subordinate thing is controlling the dominant thing.

The dog has control of the tail, and it is the horse that pulls the cart. But these idioms imply that the lesser thing is going against the natural order, and is taking precidence of the superior thing.

Such as a parent buying every toy the child wants, but neglecting the house payment instead. Or the newbie slacker at a job is getting paid more, and has more influence, than the hard-working guy who's been there a decade.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

It's "the tail wagging the dog" and it refers to the smaller, less significant part (the tail) controlling the larger big body (the dog).