A drop in the bucket

A drop in the bucket (or ocean)

Meaning

A very small part of a bigger whole.

Examples

The country’s debt has risen to a trillion pounds. Paying off a billion is just a drop in the bucket.

Where did it originate?

The Bible.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.