Notes » June 2007

Letting the Side Down

Is there an expression that rubs you the wrong way?

I could name several that drive me crazy, but the one I've come to loathe most in Hong Kong is heard in passing. The idiom is: letting the side down.

That "letting down" means disappointment isn't what irritates me; it's the inclusion of "the side" that rankles.

British expatriates are the usual culprits (this town still has a few bad apples), tossing out the phrase in reference to any other Caucasian expat (most times also British) who doesn't conform to expected standards, ie. someone who has decided to embrace Chinese culture as a part of his life in Hong Kong; someone who intends to live here long term and be part of the community. The use of "the side" implies that someone has "gone native" and is thus contributing to the decline of Western civilisation. "The side" reeks of old colonial attitudes, which is why it irks me.

Now to be fair, it's possible that the term might be uttered in criticism of a rotten performance by a player on their favourite footy team, but that can't account for every use; and besides, World War II ended a long time ago.

On the other side of the fence, I don't know if an equivalent Cantonese expression exists. I have my doubts; Hong Kongers aren't known for their colonial exploits.

But you could argue that the habit some locals have of using derogatory terms for foreigners means a "side" also exists, but such a habit is motivated by the ignorant and misguided belief in the superiority of one's race, as opposed to the idea of Western supremacy, which also includes ideological, political, societal, and class ideals.

Aside of all that, the phrase just sounds pompous; if there's anyone letting his fellow countrymen down, it's the guy who uses it.

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