When there are more important matters to consider, then you can use the phrase "Bigger fish to fry."
The phrase "Bigger fish to fry" is one of the most useful, most simple to use, and most easily understood slang phrases in English. When there is something that is more important, but when time is being used to think, discuss, or debate other less important matters, you can use the phrase "bigger fish to fry."
The analogy being used is to the preparation of the fish for eating. When you fry fish, there may be many fish, and not just one. When there are many fish, and you are frying the small ones, without frying the largest one, then you may be using your time unwisely by focusing your attention on the small fish.
For example,
A. "I think that we should use the steel chopsticks, not the wood ones."
B. "We have bigger fish to fry. We don't even know where we are serving."
Notes:
The phrase "bigger fish to fry" is slang and would not be appropriate in formal settings.
Subtle point:
The meaning of "bigger fish to fry" is quite simple. However, it must be understood that this is very casual language, and that it may contain a very subtle insult. The implication of the phrase is that someone else is using time and/or attention incorrectly. In the example above, person B is subtly criticizing person A. Person B is gently telling Person A that he is wasting time.
Another example:
A. "Let's focus on this. We have bigger fish to fry."
B. "Are you saying that I have been wasting our time?"
A. "Well, yes."
If you are not close to the listener, then you can see that the listener can misunderstand the speaker. For that reason, the phrase "we have bigger fish to fry" should be used carefully.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Korea is Right on the FTA Impasse, But the Bigger Picture is More Important
The Seoul Gyopo Guide has pointed out the importance of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) to the Korean population here, and pointed out that the lack of a ratified agreement victimizes the Korean people. The KORUS FTA was an agreement reached many years ago, and there was anticipation that Presidents Obama and Lee would have used the G20 Seoul Summit in order to be a place where they would announce a final agreement which could be ratified by both legislatures. Wrong. No final agreement has yet been reached.
In today's Wall Street Journal, it is reported that tariffs on the auto industry is the only remaining sticking point. Korea objects to the phasing out of the existing tariffs over a five-year period. Instead, Korea wants to have the tariff removed immediately. It is perfectly reasonable that Korea would attempt to get this concession from the U.S., given that the other matters have been resolved, and that Korean auto manufacturers have invested heavily in the U.S. and employ a large number of Americans. Hyundai Motors, in particular, is well-known to have manufacturing plants in Alabama and Georgia.
Even though it will hurt Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors on the margin, the fact is that the overall agreement will help the Korean population. Given that inflation is the most difficult domestic economic challenge faced by everyday Koreans, the Korean government must consider this first, and do everything that it can in order to lessen the burden of the increased cost of living in Korea. It should ratify the KORUS FTA as soon as possible. Korea should not attempt hold up the agreement on this minor point, so that the general Korean population can benefit immediately. Korea is the U.S. 7th largest trade partner, and there will be additional negotiations in the future. The notion of not setting a negative precedent must be weighed against the notion of reasonableness and cooperation. Since those two basically cancel each other out, the benefits to the Korean people should be the deciding factor. Hopefully, the Korean government fully understands this.
In today's Wall Street Journal, it is reported that tariffs on the auto industry is the only remaining sticking point. Korea objects to the phasing out of the existing tariffs over a five-year period. Instead, Korea wants to have the tariff removed immediately. It is perfectly reasonable that Korea would attempt to get this concession from the U.S., given that the other matters have been resolved, and that Korean auto manufacturers have invested heavily in the U.S. and employ a large number of Americans. Hyundai Motors, in particular, is well-known to have manufacturing plants in Alabama and Georgia.
Even though it will hurt Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors on the margin, the fact is that the overall agreement will help the Korean population. Given that inflation is the most difficult domestic economic challenge faced by everyday Koreans, the Korean government must consider this first, and do everything that it can in order to lessen the burden of the increased cost of living in Korea. It should ratify the KORUS FTA as soon as possible. Korea should not attempt hold up the agreement on this minor point, so that the general Korean population can benefit immediately. Korea is the U.S. 7th largest trade partner, and there will be additional negotiations in the future. The notion of not setting a negative precedent must be weighed against the notion of reasonableness and cooperation. Since those two basically cancel each other out, the benefits to the Korean people should be the deciding factor. Hopefully, the Korean government fully understands this.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
영어 Slang of the Day #4: What is a "Monday Morning Quarterback"
In the U.S., American football is, by far, the dominant sport
Perhaps the fact that Samsung is the official TV of the National Football League (NFL) may the largest single signal of Korea's economic advancement to the world. The quarterback is the most important position on a football team. On sports channels, like ESPN, the decisions that the quarterback makes are scrutinized from every angle. The actual games traditionally occur on Sunday (일요일). The analysis traditionally occurs on Mondays.
From that background, you can understand what "Monday morning quarterback" means. It means that people, with the benefit of hindsight, freely criticize decisions, without actually being there at the time. The term "Monday morning quarterback" is used to describe those people who may or may not have the expertise to criticize, but do so anyway. You can use the phrase for any topic, not only American football.
Examples:
(o) That analyst is just being a Monday morning quarterback. He has never even played golf, and that putt was more difficult than it seemed.
(o) It is easy for you to say: you are a Monday morning quarterback. Everyone is an expert after the result is known.
Notes:
This phrase is usually not used in writing. It is quite informal.
You can say "Monday morning quarterbacking" as a noun, but it is not strictly correct. For example, you can say "There is a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking going on in the newspapers this morning after last night's incident." However, "quarterbacking" isn't really a noun that is widely used in any other ways.
Perhaps the fact that Samsung is the official TV of the National Football League (NFL) may the largest single signal of Korea's economic advancement to the world. The quarterback is the most important position on a football team. On sports channels, like ESPN, the decisions that the quarterback makes are scrutinized from every angle. The actual games traditionally occur on Sunday (일요일). The analysis traditionally occurs on Mondays.
From that background, you can understand what "Monday morning quarterback" means. It means that people, with the benefit of hindsight, freely criticize decisions, without actually being there at the time. The term "Monday morning quarterback" is used to describe those people who may or may not have the expertise to criticize, but do so anyway. You can use the phrase for any topic, not only American football.
Examples:
(o) That analyst is just being a Monday morning quarterback. He has never even played golf, and that putt was more difficult than it seemed.
(o) It is easy for you to say: you are a Monday morning quarterback. Everyone is an expert after the result is known.
Notes:
This phrase is usually not used in writing. It is quite informal.
You can say "Monday morning quarterbacking" as a noun, but it is not strictly correct. For example, you can say "There is a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking going on in the newspapers this morning after last night's incident." However, "quarterbacking" isn't really a noun that is widely used in any other ways.
What Did You Expect? Wikileaks strikes South Korea.
What Did You Expect? Wikileaks strikes South Korea.
Over the past few days, WikiLeaks has revealed embarrassing facts about South Korean diplomats, and South Korean diplomacy. Among the embarrassing facts, name-calling of Chinese diplomats is probably the worst, especially given the fact that China is a necessary participant in calming the current North-South Korean situation. Although the Seoul Gyopo Guide believes that the Korea Herald article overstates the idea of panic among South Korean governmental officials, it is true that Korean diplomacy will need to adapt to the idea that it will be scrutinized to a far higher degree in the future.
New Position, New Responsibilities
The reason that Korea must adapt to a higher level of scrutiny? Its higher position the global pecking order among nations. Asia clearly is a focal point of the global economy, with China being the obvious center. South Korea plays a critical role because for the economic links between the two countries. Korea was able to secure its position as the host of the G20 Summit. Goldman Sachs has postulated that South Korea could have the largest per-capita GDP in the world in the decades to come.
The themes are not new. South Korea has not behaved with consistency in many areas. If Korea wants to receive global respect, then it must behave with the same set of rules that apply to the other global leaders. It will need to accept the same scrutiny that Japan, the U.S., and the EC receive.
The press will also need to behave responsibly. To characterize the South Korean government's reaction as panic is an overreaction, and makes it appear to readers that the South Korean government is incompetent. The reaction of President Lee has been very competent under very difficult circumstances. South Korea has everything to lose and nothing to gain from increased geopolitical tensions. It must remain wary of North Korea's "puncher's chance" if there were a military conflict. There are 25 million South Koreans well within a 90 minute tank ride from the DMZ. Yet, the Korean President must protect the nation's citizens, and the world will support any nation that defends the physical well-being of its people.
Conclusion
The rules are difficult but it runs both ways. Korea's greater stature in the world will be accompanied by greater scrutiny. All parties will need to adjust to this new set of rules and quickly, in order to keep pace with the quality of Korean-made products and companies on the global stage.
Over the past few days, WikiLeaks has revealed embarrassing facts about South Korean diplomats, and South Korean diplomacy. Among the embarrassing facts, name-calling of Chinese diplomats is probably the worst, especially given the fact that China is a necessary participant in calming the current North-South Korean situation. Although the Seoul Gyopo Guide believes that the Korea Herald article overstates the idea of panic among South Korean governmental officials, it is true that Korean diplomacy will need to adapt to the idea that it will be scrutinized to a far higher degree in the future.
New Position, New Responsibilities
The reason that Korea must adapt to a higher level of scrutiny? Its higher position the global pecking order among nations. Asia clearly is a focal point of the global economy, with China being the obvious center. South Korea plays a critical role because for the economic links between the two countries. Korea was able to secure its position as the host of the G20 Summit. Goldman Sachs has postulated that South Korea could have the largest per-capita GDP in the world in the decades to come.
The themes are not new. South Korea has not behaved with consistency in many areas. If Korea wants to receive global respect, then it must behave with the same set of rules that apply to the other global leaders. It will need to accept the same scrutiny that Japan, the U.S., and the EC receive.
The press will also need to behave responsibly. To characterize the South Korean government's reaction as panic is an overreaction, and makes it appear to readers that the South Korean government is incompetent. The reaction of President Lee has been very competent under very difficult circumstances. South Korea has everything to lose and nothing to gain from increased geopolitical tensions. It must remain wary of North Korea's "puncher's chance" if there were a military conflict. There are 25 million South Koreans well within a 90 minute tank ride from the DMZ. Yet, the Korean President must protect the nation's citizens, and the world will support any nation that defends the physical well-being of its people.
Conclusion
The rules are difficult but it runs both ways. Korea's greater stature in the world will be accompanied by greater scrutiny. All parties will need to adjust to this new set of rules and quickly, in order to keep pace with the quality of Korean-made products and companies on the global stage.
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