Drop In The Bucket

Pronunciation: /drɑp ɪn ðə ˈbʌkɪt/

Definitions of drop in the bucket

noun a small or insignificant amount

Example Sentences

A1 Finding a penny on the ground is like a drop in the bucket compared to winning the lottery.

A2 For a billionaire, losing a million dollars is just a drop in the bucket.

B1 The small donation we made to the charity was just a drop in the bucket compared to what they need.

B2 The government's efforts to reduce pollution are important, but they are just a drop in the bucket compared to what needs to be done.

C1 The amount of money spent on space exploration is often criticized as just a drop in the bucket compared to other global issues.

C2 When it comes to solving world hunger, individual donations can feel like a drop in the bucket, but every little bit helps.

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

Example Sentences

A1 A drop in the bucket is not enough to fill the pool.

A2 For him, a drop in the bucket was all he could afford.

B1 The donation was appreciated, but it was just a drop in the bucket compared to what was needed.

B2 The government's efforts to combat poverty were seen as just a drop in the bucket by critics.

C1 The company's investment in renewable energy was significant, but it was still just a drop in the bucket compared to their overall carbon footprint.

C2 The billionaire's philanthropic efforts were seen as a drop in the bucket compared to his vast wealth.

Examples of drop in the bucket in a Sentence

formal The amount of money raised was just a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed for the project.

informal Donating a few dollars here and there is just a drop in the bucket for the charity.

slang Throwing a couple of bucks into the donation jar is like a drop in the bucket for this cause.

figurative His apology was just a drop in the bucket after all the hurtful things he said.

Grammatical Forms of drop in the bucket

• past tense: dropped
• plural: drops in the bucket
• comparative: more drops in the bucket
• superlative: most drops in the bucket
• present tense: drops in the bucket
• future tense: will drop in the bucket
• perfect tense: have dropped in the bucket
• continuous tense: are dropping in the bucket
• singular: a drop in the bucket
• positive degree: drop in the bucket
• infinitive: to drop in the bucket
• gerund: dropping in the bucket
• participle: dropped in the bucket

Origin and Evolution of drop in the bucket

First Known Use: 1382 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'drop in the bucket' originates from the Bible, specifically the Old Testament. It is a reference to a small, insignificant amount compared to a larger quantity.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase has come to be used in a figurative sense to describe something that is small or insignificant in relation to a much larger context or problem.