Meanings
- Russianhistoricalgovernmentan ideology that attributes good outcomes to the tsar, and bad outcomes to his inferior ministers (boyars).
Synonyms: naïve monarchism
- figurativelyused to criticize situations in which high-ranking authorities disclaim responsibility for their policies and activities
Synonyms & antonyms
phrasean ideology that attributes good outcomes to the tsar, and bad outcomes to his inferior ministers (boyars).
Origin
Compare if only the tsar knew, German wenn das der Führer wüsste. Suggests that, if only the tsar were aware of the injustices of his bad boyars, he would immediately rectify the problems.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian добър цар - лоши боляри
- добър цар - лоши боляри (dobăr car - loši boljari)ideology, literal and figurative uses
Russian царь хоро́ший, боя́ре плохи́е
- царь хоро́ший, боя́ре плохи́е (carʹ xoróšij, bojáre ploxíje)ideology, literal and figurative uses
Cite this entry
good tsar, bad boyars. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20tsar%2C%20bad%20boyars
“good tsar, bad boyars.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20tsar%2C%20bad%20boyars. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “good tsar, bad boyars,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20tsar%2C%20bad%20boyars.
Source: good tsar, bad boyars on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.