The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

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über alles (oober alez) Dominant; above all. An
expression of German origin, meaning “over
all,” it comes from the German national anthem
“Deutschland über alles,” which became notorious
as the anthem (1922–45) of the Nazi regime of
Adolf hitler. <strong>The</strong> phrase is commonly employed
in circumstances where a person or or ga ni za tion is
suspected of acting in a dictatorial manner. With
her sister it’s a case of fun über alles, even if that means
sacrifi cing her family and career.
Ubi sunt? (oobee sbnt) Where are they now?
This lament in Latin on the transitory nature of
earthly greatness has biblical origins, the words
arising from a medieval reworking of David’s
lament for Saul and Jonathan: “<strong>The</strong> beauty of Israel
is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty
fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19). <strong>The</strong> ubi sunt motif became
a pop u lar theme of medieval poetry, designating “a
mood or theme in literature of lament for the mutability
of things” (Oxford En glish Dictionary). <strong>The</strong>y were
among the most celebrated players of their generation, but
as is so often the case in the world of sport, once they
retired, their names rarely cropped up outside the usual
Ubi sunt? inquiries.
Ugly American An American who acts in an
overbearing manner while abroad. <strong>The</strong> origin of
the expression was the best- selling book of stories
entitled <strong>The</strong> Ugly American (1958) by William J.
Lederer and Eugene Burdick, which dealt with the
United States’ disastrous involvement in Southeast
Asia in the postwar period. Resentment in the region
at the presence of a large number of “ugly Americans” did
little to help soothe ruffl ed local sensibilities over what
was seen as unwarranted interference from the West.
ugly duckling An unprepossessing person or
thing who against all expectations proves a great
success. <strong>The</strong> reference is to the children’s story
“<strong>The</strong> Ugly Duckling” (fi rst translated into En glish
in 1846) by Danish writer hans christian andersen
(1805–75). Andersen’s tale, often interpreted
over the years on the large and small screens and
in song, concerns a duckling who seems to lack
the natural abilities and good looks of his young
siblings, until he grows up and turns out not to be
a duck at all, but a magnifi cent swan. <strong>The</strong> phrase is
often applied to children of ordinary appearance
who confound expectations by becoming great
beauties as adults, but it may also be applied to a
wider range of human or animal misfi ts, projects,
commercial enterprises, etc., that exceed all predictions
for them. “Even when made up with the
fi nest cosmetics money could buy it would never
be beautiful, but still . . . not bad for an ugly