Are You a 'Big Fish in a Small Pond?'
2022-03-20
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1And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
2On today's show we talk about an idiom involving fish and a pond.
3A pond is a small body of water. It is usually smaller than a lake.
4And our idiom today is "to be a big fish in a small pond."
5"A big fish in a small pond" describes a person who is very well known or important in a small group but is not known or important outside that small group.
6For example, a high-performing high school student in a small town could be a big fish in a small pond.
7He may feel overly-confident or overly-important, or he may simply not know how small his "pond" is -- until he moves on to a big university.
8He must compete with hundreds of students who were also the best at their high schools.
9His pond just got a much larger and is now filled with many more fish.
10Here is another example.
11A young singer was famous in her small town.
12She wanted to move to a big city to grow her singing career.
13Her close friends and family supported her but also warned her.
14Here in our small town, they said, you are a big fish in a small pond.
15Once you move to New York City, that is going to change. Best be ready!
16For some people, this can be a painful realization - sometimes called a wake-up call.
17Sometimes when we use the expression "a big fish in a small pond," we add words to better describe the fish and the pond.
18For example, the singer's friends could say that she will be a very small but talented fish in a very big competitive pond.
19Now, some people like being a big fish in a small pond.
20They never grow their circle of friends or work environment.
21Sometimes they do not take opportunities that increase their environment, or pond.
22By staying in a small pond, it is safer.
23There are fewer dangers and also fewer competitors.
24The Meriam-Webster online dictionary says that the expression "big fish" has been slang for an important or influential person since the early 1800s.
25The addition of "in a small pond" -- to mean an unimportant organization -- is more recent.
26The dictionary goes on to explain another way to use the idiom "a big fish in a small pond."
27It can also describe a situation in which one person has more power, influence, knowledge, or experience than others within a small group.
28So, sometimes we use this expression to describe people in an insulting way.
29We are saying that they want to stay in a small pond just to feel more important.
30Their position of authority is not questioned by the other fish in the pond.
31And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
32Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. 2On today's show we talk about an idiom involving fish and a pond. A pond is a small body of water. It is usually smaller than a lake. 3And our idiom today is "to be a big fish in a small pond." 4"A big fish in a small pond" describes a person who is very well known or important in a small group but is not known or important outside that small group. 5For example, a high-performing high school student in a small town could be a big fish in a small pond. He may feel overly-confident or overly-important, or he may simply not know how small his "pond" is -- until he moves on to a big university. 6He must compete with hundreds of students who were also the best at their high schools. His pond just got a much larger and is now filled with many more fish. 7Here is another example. 8A young singer was famous in her small town. She wanted to move to a big city to grow her singing career. Her close friends and family supported her but also warned her. Here in our small town, they said, you are a big fish in a small pond. Once you move to New York City, that is going to change. Best be ready! 9For some people, this can be a painful realization - sometimes called a wake-up call. 10Sometimes when we use the expression "a big fish in a small pond," we add words to better describe the fish and the pond. For example, the singer's friends could say that she will be a very small but talented fish in a very big competitive pond. 11Now, some people like being a big fish in a small pond. They never grow their circle of friends or work environment. Sometimes they do not take opportunities that increase their environment, or pond. By staying in a small pond, it is safer. There are fewer dangers and also fewer competitors. 12The Meriam-Webster online dictionary says that the expression "big fish" has been slang for an important or influential person since the early 1800s. The addition of "in a small pond" -- to mean an unimportant organization -- is more recent. 13The dictionary goes on to explain another way to use the idiom "a big fish in a small pond." It can also describe a situation in which one person has more power, influence, knowledge, or experience than others within a small group. 14So, sometimes we use this expression to describe people in an insulting way. We are saying that they want to stay in a small pond just to feel more important. Their position of authority is not questioned by the other fish in the pond. 15And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 16Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 17__________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19idiom - n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but must be learned as a whole 20pond - n. a body of water usually smaller than a lake 21confident - adj. having or showing sureness and optimism 22wake-up call - n. something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need 23opportunity - n. a good chance for advancement or progress 24slang - n. very informal words used by a group of people 25authority - n. power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior