His stock falling?

Reader question:

What does “stock” mean in “his stock is falling rather than rising” when clearly they are not talking about share prices in the stock market?

My comments:

One’s stock rising or falling is an idiom, a cliché using the stock market as a metaphor.

In the stock market, share prices rise and fall like a yo-yo. If your stock – the shares you own – falls, the price of those shares fall. Metaphorically, if your stock rises, your popularity rises, your value in general goes up. Similarly if your stock is high, you’re doing well. If your stock is low, well, shore it up.

One’s stock rising and falling, or one’s stock being high or low, are terms often used to describe the rise and fall of pop stars, sports personalities and other celebrities. If, say, Britney Spears’ stock is rising, then she must be selling more albums, selling out concerts, appearing in more magazine covers and generally doing a good job at making dough.

Take LeBron James, the NBA basketball star as another example. They say his stock is rising, too. That means he’s winning more games with his team, his familiarity among the population shoots further up, his ability to negotiate hefty sponsorship deals is enhanced and his market value, or marketing value, is increased.

On the other hand George Bush the American President has seen his stock fall like a rock in a bottomless sea. For example, an October 6, 2005 headline reads:

Poll: Bush Ratings Hit New Low (CBS News).

Six months later another headline asked (Rolling Stone magazine, April 21, 2006):

The Worst President in History?

Last time I checked, which is just now, I found this (Shortnews.com, November 21, 2008):

George Bush: Least Popular President

With just 71 days left in office, George W. Bush has set a new record for being the most unpopular American President ever, according to data released by CNN. His approval rating is 24% and his disapproval rating is now 76%....

And I also discovered that publishers are even shunning his memo (Publishers in no rush to grab President Bush’s memoirs - AP, November 6, 2008), completing instead for the rights to a book by his wife (Laura Bush, publishers, discuss a book deal - CSMoniter.com, November 26, 2008).

Ah well, for Bush, when it rains, it pours. It’s been, like, a freefall.

Anyways, here are more media examples:

1. someone’s stock is rising:

Carolyn Williams of the Institute of Risk Management, in London, says more and more financial firms are hiring risk managers.

“Their stock is rising,” said Pagano, adding that a job in risk “gives you a greater visibility with senior management, gives you an opportunity to move ahead within the organization.”

2. someone’s stock is falling:

A headline (timesonline.co.uk, January 14, 2008):

Mike Ashley’s stock is falling fast.

3. somebody’s stock is high, or low:

When Posh got Beckham her stock was high and his was low compared to what it is now. Now, without him, she is nothing but he is still a global megastar on his own. If she were to lose Beckham now, she couldn’t possibly hope to marry nearly as well again. She is a former pop star with two small kids (8 points). She’d be lucky to snare Craig David (9 points) these days, never mind David Beckham (1000 points). Therefore she needs to hang onto Beckham because he is her last, and only chance at world domination. Her music certainly isn’t going to do it and even Posh must know that somewhere deep down in her little diamond-encrusted heart.