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Big fish in a small pond

Big fish in a small pond

Meaning

An important person but only so within a small area of influence.

Examples

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?

USA, late 19th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a 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.

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.
Big fish in a small pond

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