C1idiomnatureIELTS-friendly
a big fish in a small pond
USUK
an important person, but only in a small group or place
Can be neutral or slightly critical. The opposite is 'a small fish in a big pond'.
In context
At his village school he was a big fish in a small pond, but university was harder.
She'd rather be a big fish in a small pond than one of hundreds at a giant firm.
More idioms about nature
- a bird's-eye viewa view of something from high above
- a breath of fresh airsomeone or something new and different that makes a situation more pleasant
- a dark horsea person with hidden talents, or a competitor nobody expected to do well
- a drop in the oceana very small amount compared with what is needed
- a fly in the ointmentone small problem that spoils something that is otherwise good