A Big Fish In A Small Pond

Pronunciation: /ə bɪɡ fɪʃ ɪn ə smɔl pɑnd/

Definitions of a big fish in a small pond

noun a body of water smaller than a lake, especially one artificially formed, as by damming a stream

Example Sentences

A1 He is a big fish in a small pond at his school.

A2 She always felt like a big fish in a small pond in her hometown.

B1 The CEO of the company was a big fish in a small pond before expanding globally.

B2 The famous artist was once a big fish in a small pond, but now he is known worldwide.

C1 After years of success in the local market, he realized he was just a big fish in a small pond.

C2 Despite being a big fish in a small pond in the industry, he always aimed for bigger challenges.

adjective describing the size of the fish as large

Example Sentences

A1 She feels like a big fish in a small pond when she helps out at the local library.

A2 The new student was used to being a big fish in a small pond at his old school.

B1 After working at the family business for years, he realized he was just a big fish in a small pond.

B2 The CEO of the startup felt like a big fish in a small pond compared to the larger corporations in the industry.

C1 Despite his success in the regional market, he knew he would always be a big fish in a small pond.

C2 The award-winning author was content being a big fish in a small pond rather than seeking fame on a global scale.

Examples of a big fish in a small pond in a Sentence

formal He was considered a big fish in a small pond in his local community due to his success in business.

informal She's like a big fish in a small pond at this school, everyone knows her.

slang He thinks he's a big fish in a small pond just because he's the best player on the team.

figurative In the world of indie music, she's a big fish in a small pond, but she dreams of making it big in the mainstream.

Grammatical Forms of a big fish in a small pond

• past tense: was a big fish in a small pond
• plural: big fish in small ponds
• comparative: bigger fish in a smaller pond
• superlative: biggest fish in the smallest pond
• present tense: is a big fish in a small pond
• future tense: will be a big fish in a small pond
• perfect tense: has been a big fish in a small pond
• continuous tense: is being a big fish in a small pond
• singular: a big fish in a small pond
• positive degree: big fish in a small pond
• infinitive: to be a big fish in a small pond
• gerund: being a big fish in a small pond
• participle: a big fish in a small pond

Origin and Evolution of a big fish in a small pond

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'a big fish in a small pond' originates from the concept of a large and influential person or entity in a small or limited environment, where their power and influence are magnified due to the small scale of the pond.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase has come to be used metaphorically to describe someone who is important or successful in a limited or less competitive field, but may not stand out as much in a larger or more competitive context.