VOA词汇掌故2022--你是“小池塘里的大鱼”吗

Are You a ‘Big Fish in a Small Pond?'

And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On today's show we talk about an idiom involving fish and a pond. A pond is a small body of water. It is usually smaller than a lake.

And our idiom today is "to be a big fish in a small pond."

"A big fish in a small pond" describes a person who is very well known or important in a small group but is not known or important outside that small group.

For example, a high-performing high school student in a small town could be a big fish in a small pond. He may feel overly-confident or overly-important, or he may simply not know how small his "pond" is -- until he moves on to a big university.

He must compete with hundreds of students who were also the best at their high schools. His pond just got a much larger and is now filled with many more fish.

Here is another example.

A young singer was famous in her small town. She wanted to move to a big city to grow her singing career. Her close friends and family supported her but also warned her. Here in our small town, they said, you are a big fish in a small pond. Once you move to New York City, that is going to change. Best be ready!

For some people, this can be a painful realization¹ – sometimes called a wake-up call.

Sometimes when we use the expression "a big fish in a small pond," we add words to better describe the fish and the pond. For example, the singer's friends could say that she will be a very small but talented fish in a very big competitive² pond.

Now, some people like being a big fish in a small pond. They never grow their circle of friends or work environment. Sometimes they do not take opportunities that increase their environment, or pond. By staying in a small pond, it is safer. There are fewer dangers and also fewer competitors.

The Meriam-Webster online dictionary says that the expression "big fish" has been slang³ for an important or influential⁴ person since the early 1800s. The addition of "in a small pond" -- to mean an unimportant⁵ organization -- is more recent.

The dictionary goes on to explain another way to use the idiom "a big fish in a small pond." It can also describe a situation in which one person has more power, influence, knowledge, or experience than others within a small group.

So, sometimes we use this expression to describe people in an insulting way. We are saying that they want to stay in a small pond just to feel more important. Their position of authority is not questioned by the other fish in the pond.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but must be learned as a whole

pond – n. a body of water usually smaller than a lake

confident – adj. having or showing sureness and optimism⁶

wake-up call – n. something that serves to alert⁷ a person to a problem, danger, or need

opportunity – n. a good chance for advancement⁸ or progress

slang – n. very informal words used by a group of people

authority – n. power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior

1 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

2 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

3 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

4 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

5 unimportant   

adj.不重要的，无意义的

参考例句：

• Let's not quarrel about such unimportant matters.我们不要为这些小事争吵了。
• Money seems unimportant when sets beside the joys of family life.与天伦之乐相比，金钱显得微不足道。

6 optimism   

n.乐观，乐观主义

参考例句：

• Don't pour cold water on their optimism.别给他们的乐观态度泼冷水。
• Optimism made him alive through the hard days.乐观主义使他在艰难的岁月里活了下来。

7 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。

8 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。