Meaning and Use
აქოთდება, ცუდი სუნი აუვა
will start to stink, will smell fetid
Phraseological Units
Proverb
თევზი თავიდან აყროლდებაო
a fish rots from the head down
Synonyms
Cultural Notes
Historically, the proverb "a/the fish rots from the head down" has been traced back centuries to Turkish roots (as "balik bastan kokar") and various African and Asian traditions. It is widely used in business, political, and leadership contexts to emphasize that accountability, ethical behavior, and organizational health all start at the very top. In the Georgian linguistic and socio-cultural landscape, this proverb operates with the exact same weight.