Donate SIGN UP
Home > Phrases & Sayings > mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below

mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below

Avatar Image
keitra | 06:23 Wed 22nd Jan 2003 | Phrases & Sayings
1 Answers
What does 'mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below' mean in 'Two-thirds of the nation believes the public services in general perform well'\even the arrogant civil service, mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below.'?
prev How do you like them apples?
  
next only fools and horses work
Gravatar

Answers

Only 1 answerrss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by keitra. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Avatar Image rekstout
A mandarin was a high level civil servant in pre-communist China. It is used in a modern context to describe a high ranking civil servant who is out of touch with the modern world.

I presume the "citizen-disdaining below" are asid mandarin's subordinates who care little for the people they purport to serve.

I would guess that the entire sentence refers to Mr Blair and his cabinet.
09:16 Wed 22nd Jan 2003

Only 1 answerrss feed

Do you know the answer?

mandarin at the top and citizen-disdaining below

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.