The phrase “a fish starts to stink at the head” (“balik bashtan kokar”) comes from Turkey, reminding us that petty bribes at street-level are often matched by greater corruption at the top of organisations and institutions. Mexican officials looking to earn a kickback for arranging a business deal will demand they are given “a bite” (“una mordida”), while their Columbian counterparts are said to “saw” (“serrucho”) off a part of a government contract for themselves.
From ‘Stinking fish and small coffees – the language of corruption around the world’ by the BBC (July 10, 2013) available here.
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