Meanings
phrasewho watches the watchers?
- Indicating concern as to whether those responsible for monitoring the behavior of others are themselves held accountable.
This "who watches the watchers" problem seems especially acute in the case of the "mutual funds plan" advocated by a number of observers of the Eastern European situation.
1996, George K. Yarrow, Piotr Jasinski, Privatization: Critical Perspectives on the World Economy, page 107
Translations
Chinese 谁来把守守卫者
- 谁来把守守卫者concern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Czech kdo pozoruje pozorovatele
- kdo pozoruje pozorovateleconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
German wer wird die Wächter selbst bewachen
- wer wird die Wächter selbst bewachenconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Greek ποιος θα φυλάξει τους φύλακες
- ποιος θα φυλάξει τους φύλακες (poios tha fyláxei tous fýlakes)concern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Italian chi sorveglierà i sorveglianti stessi
- chi sorveglierà i sorveglianti stessiconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Latin quis custodiet ipsos custodes
- quis custodiet ipsos custodesconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Polish kto pilnować będzie samych strażników
- kto pilnować będzie samych strażnikówconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Portuguese quem vigia os vigilantes
- quem vigia os vigilantesconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Russian кто устережёт самих сторожей
- кто устережёт самих сторожей (kto usterežót samix storožej)concern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Spanish quién vigilará a los vigilantes
- quién vigilará a los vigilantesconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Swedish vem vaktar väktarna
- vem vaktar väktarnaconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Turkish gözetleyenleri kim gözetleyecek
- gözetleyenleri kim gözetleyecekconcern about accountability of those monitoring behavior
Cite this entry
APA
who watches the watchers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/who%20watches%20the%20watchers
MLA
“who watches the watchers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/who%20watches%20the%20watchers. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “who watches the watchers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/who%20watches%20the%20watchers.
Source: who watches the watchers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.