publish or perish

Idioms  

1. Produce published work or fall into disfavor. For example, The younger members of the department have a heavier teaching load, but they also know it's publish or perish. This expression is nearly always used for college or university teachers, for whom advancement frequently is predicated on publishing research in their field. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

The pressure to publish or perish, or to win administrative funding, contributes to an environment where the rules get softened.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 12, 2018

It’s not just publish or perish; it’s publish and flourish.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 12, 2018

McGurk: So, I’m on the tenure track, which means that I have to publish or perish.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2017

He hoped that it might end the harmful culture of publish or perish by showing that some papers were more cited — and hence more valuable — than others.

From Nature • Nov. 7, 2017

One implication of the "publish or perish" syndrome is that university administrators, unable to measure teaching ability, tend to abdicate this responsibility and rate teachers solely on their research.

From Time Magazine Archive