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Wise men of Gotham vs Wise men of the East

wise men of Gotham(UK ironic) fools; simpletons:

  • “I would pay no attention,” I replied, “to the wishes of those few wise men of Gotham who would arbitrate this matter.”

Note: The expression is unrelated in meaning to the phrase Gotham City—(U.S.) a nickname for New York City:

  • I figured the one place he’d never find me would be Gotham City … the home of the hated Yankees.

wise men of the East—(the Bible) the three Magi who came from the East, bringing offerings to the infant Christ:

  • It is chronicled in an old Armenian myth that the wise men of the East were none other than the three sons of Noe.

See also: wise guy / wise man.