idiom
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
ah RY-zing tyd lifts awl bohts
/ə ˈraɪzɪŋ taɪd lɪfts ɔːl boʊts/Listen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
arisingtideliftsallboats
Dictionary meaning
General economic growth or social progress benefits everyone, not just the privileged; prosperity is shared across all levels of society
History and origin
Popularised by John F. Kennedy in 1963; originally used in a New England regional context about harbour development
Examples
- Critics of trickle-down economics argue that a rising tide does not always lift all boats equally.
- The mayor argued that investing in public transit is a rising tide that lifts all boats.
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