speak softly and carry a big stick
- speak softly and carry a big stick
United States President Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) used this saying on a number of occasions, claiming it to be an old proverb, though there is no apparent evidence for this claim. The variant ‘walk softly..’ is occasionally found.
1901 T. ROOSEVELT speech at Minnesota State Fair (2 Sept.) in Star Tribune 3 Sept. (online) A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb, ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far.’
1982 Christian Science Monitor 21 July 9 Carry a big stick but speak softly—a lot more softly. That, in effect, is the wisdom being urged upon America’s official information agency, the International Communications Agency (ICA), by its national oversight commission.
2007 Times Mag. 30 June 90 Strange game, diplomacy, I reflect... Speak softly and carry a big stick, as someone once put it. I feel I let myself down on both counts.
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speak softly and carry a big stick — If you speak softly and carry a big stick, you make your case quietly but can back it up forcefully if necessary … The small dictionary of idiomes
speak softly and carry a big stick — If you speak softly and carry a big stick, you express your views in a quite non aggressive manner, but you make it clear that you are in a position to use force if necessary. As a leader he recommends the speak softly and carry a big… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
speak softly and carry a big stick — Meaning Proverb. Origin The use of this proverb in english appears to have begun with Theodore Roosevelt. He is quoted as saying I have always been fond of the West African proverb speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far … Meaning and origin of phrases
Big Stick Ideology — Big Stick Ideology, or Big Stick Policy, is a form of hegemony and was the slogan describing U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. The term originated from the phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will… … Wikipedia
Big Stick, West Virginia — Big Stick is an unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along County Route 3/2, beside the Winding Gulf Creek. This community was part of the Winding Gulf coalfield in Raleigh County. It is centered at… … Wikipedia
big stick — ☆ big stick n. [from “speak softly and carry a big stick,” portion of Afr proverb quoted by T. ROOSEVELT2 Theodore] [also B S ] a policy of acting or negotiating from a position backed by a show of strength … English World dictionary
Big Stick Policy — Policy named by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt to describe the assertion of U.S. dominance as a moral imperative. It was taken from an African proverb, Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. Roosevelt first used it when he asked Congress… … Universalium
Big stick policy — Karikatur, die Roosevelt mit seinem „Big Stick“ in der Karibik zeigt Big Stick (engl: große Keule) ist eine Bezeichnung für die Außenpolitik Theodore Roosevelts unter Bezugnahme auf den Einsatz der US amerikanischen Kriegsmarine im Atlantischen… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Big Stick — Karikatur, die Roosevelt mit seinem „Big Stick“ in der Karibik zeigt Big Stick (englisch für große Keule) ist eine Bezeichnung für die Außenpolitik Theodore Roosevelts unter Bezugnahme auf den Einsatz der US amerikanischen Kriegsmarine im… … Deutsch Wikipedia
stick — 01. We are teaching our dog how to fetch a [stick]. 02. The children spent the afternoon throwing [sticks] into the creek, and watching them drift downstream. 03. He was arrested after hitting someone over the head with his [stick] during the… … Grammatical examples in English
