how the mighty have fallen

English

Etymology

The phrase originates in the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 1:19. The earliest version in English is found in the Great Bible, 1539: "Oh howe are the myghtie ouerthrowen."

The modern word "fallen" version is found in the King James Version, 1611 and is an expression of David's lament over Saul and Jonathan: "The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!"

Phrase

how the mighty have fallen

1. Used to imply the decline of a once-great person or entity.

Translations

proverb

• Finnish: kuinka ovatkaan sankarit kaatuneet (biblical)
• French: ce n’est plus ce que c’était
• Hebrew: אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִים (he) (ech naflú gibborím)
• Polish: jak potężny upada
• Spanish: quién te ha visto y quién te ve (colloquial)

See also

• the bigger they are, the harder they fall