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  2. What's the origin of the phrase 'Big fish in a small pond'? The converse phrase is of course ‘small fish in a big pond’. The phrases are often used to convey the degree of ambition a person holds. There are fewer ‘big fish’ and they have kudos and power locally.

    • Big Fish in A Small Pond Meaning
    • Origin of Big Fish in A Small Pond
    • Examples of Big Fish in A Small Pond
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    Definition: To be more talented in a smaller pool of contestants. If you choose to be a big fish in a small pond, you are choosing a smaller school or job with less talented peers where your skills will be more greatly noticed and appreciated. On the other hand, you may choose to be a small fish in a big pond, where your talents may go unnoticed in...

    The earliest printing of the phrase is in an American newspaper, The Galveston Daily News,in June of 1881: 1. They [local vested interests in Galveston] are big fish in a small pond.

    In the modern day, this expression is usually used to talk about a student’s placement in school. For example, 1. Since she was so popular and well known within the walls of her small high school, Jennifer was accustomed to being a big fish in a small pond. Once she started attending a large state university, however, she realized that it would tak...

    “I was a big fish in a small pond,” she said, “every day racing between four to six recording studios [to do voice-overs]. I wanted to try the big leagues.” –Chicago Daily Herald

    The English idiom a big fish in a small pondis an important and influential person within a limited sphere of influence who would be much less impactful if part of a larger group or organization.

  3. a big fish in a small pond. A situation in which one person has more power, influence, knowledge, or experience than others within a small group. It often implies that the person may not have as much clout in "a bigger pond," i.e., a larger group or arena of some kind.

  4. An important person but only so within a small area of influence. Alison is the queen of the post room. She’s a big fish in a small pond though – no one in the rest of the company knows who she is. Where did it originate?

  5. The phrase “big fish in a small pond” means someone influential or important in his own circle of friends, workplace or society. It also means an overqualified person who only wants to stay in his limited area and does not cross its boundaries.

  6. A big fish in a small pond usually hints at a persons lack of overall motivation. It also serves as a low-key criticism of somebody feeling more important than they really are and who wouldn’t be able to be successful in a “bigger pond.”

  7. BE A BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND definition: 1. to have a lot of influence only over a small area 2. to have a lot of influence only over a…. Learn more.

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