How to Pronounce "too many chiefs and not enough indians"
expression
TOO MEN-ee CHEEFS and nut ee-NUHF IN-dee-uhnz
too MEN-ee CHEEFS and not in-UHF IN-dee-uhnz
Definition
This expression is used when there are too many people trying to be leaders or give orders, but not enough people willing to do the actual work.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈtu/ /ˈmɛni/ /ˈtʃifs/ /ˈænd/, /ənd/ /ˈnɑt/ /iˈnəf/, /ɪˈnəf/ /ˈɪndiənz
British English
tˈuː/ /mˈɛni/ /tʃˈiːfs/ /ˈænd/ /nˈɒt/ /ɪnˈʌf/ /ˈɪndɪənz
Simplified Pronunciation
US
TOO MEN-ee CHEEFS and nut ee-NUHF IN-dee-uhnz
UK
too MEN-ee CHEEFS and not in-UHF IN-dee-uhnz
Listen in Context
There are too many chiefs and not enough indians on this committee.
The project failed because there were too many chiefs and not enough indians.
Our group has too many chiefs and not enough indians to get things done.
Everyone wants to be in charge, but with too many chiefs and not enough indians, nothing actually happens.