nice guys finish last
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.66 in modern English
30
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
2
Syllables
13
Unique Chars
Meaning
proverb
People who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed by others who are not so decent, friendly, or agreeable.
Example Sentences
- "The size of his victory . . . contradicted the maxim of latter-day fellow Californian Leo Durocher, who once said positively: "Nice guys finish last.""
- ""He can be as moderate as he likes. Nobody else will be. In Washington these days, nice guys finish last.""
- "Nonetheless, a team of business experts claims to have proved the pessimistic notion that "nice guys finish last" – at least where money is concerned."
Etymology
First appears in the US c. 1946, and condensed from a comment by the baseball manager Leo Durocher. The original quote was The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place. (1946 July 6), about the 1946 New York Giants — seventh place was next-to-last place in the National League. This was shortly afterwards rendered as ‘Nice Guys’ Wind Up in Last Place, Scoffs Lippy, hence giving the present form.
Phrases
the good die young
war makes thieves, and peace hangs them
Frequently Paired Words
the good die young
war makes thieves, and peace hangs them