Tony Raven wrote:
> Michael Cash wrote:
>>
>> That old chestnut needs to be retired on a full pension already. The
>> operant expression these days would be the one which makes mention of
>> squeaky wheels and grease.
>
> In what way is it an old chestnut.  AFAIK the nail that gets hammered
> is an old Japanese saying while the squeaky wheel being greased in an
> American one which has not been adopted into Japanese culture.  The
> two though nicely contrast the cultures though.

Also even in English being greased implies a positive action whereas being
hammered implies a negative one.

cheers,
clive