Big fish in a small pond


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Big fish in a small pond'?

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Someone who is important but only within a limited area of influence.

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. Those with wider ambitions swim amongst the more numerous but relatively less influential ‘small fish’. The implication behind labelling someone ‘a big fish in a small pond’ is that he/she is content to stay in that position whereas the ‘small fish’ have the chance to become ‘big fish in a big pond’.

The phrase is American and the earliest reference I can find to it is in The Galveston Daily News, June 1881:

“They [local vested interests in Galveston] are big fish in a small pond.”

See other phrases that were coined in the USA.

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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