PhrasesHub

as small as a drop in the ocean

    Definitions

      • insignificance
        Emphasize that something is extremely small or insignificant compared to a much larger context

      • minimal impact
        Highlight that an action or contribution has very little effect or influence in a vast or overwhelming situation

    Examples of as small as a drop in the ocean

    • Despite donating a considerable amount of money to charity, John's contributions were still as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the vast amount of funds required to make a significant impact on global issues.

      This idiom highlights the insignificance of John's charitable donations in the grand scheme of things. It suggests that the amount John donated was negligible, just as a single drop of water is insignificant in comparison to an entire ocean. Even if John's contributions were large in absolute terms, they were barely noticeable in the context of the global charity sector.

    • When Anne graduated from a small liberal arts college, she felt as though her achievements were as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the students from larger, more prestigious universities who were also seeking employment in her field.

      This idiom underscores the sense of insignificance that Anne may have felt, given the relative size and prestige of her alma mater in comparison to other colleges and universities. It suggests that the success Anne had achieved was minimal, just as a single drop of water is inconsequential in the face of the vastness of the ocean. Anne may have felt that her academic background would be less appealing to potential employers than those who graduated from larger, more well-known institutions.

    • After years of saving and investing, Jessica's retirement fund was as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the amount she would need to sustain herself comfortably in her golden years.

      This idiom emphasizes the shortfall that Jessica may have identified between her current retirement savings and her long-term financial needs. It implies that the amount Jessica has saved is trivial, just as a single drop of water is infinitesimal compared to an entire ocean. Jessica may have realized that the money she has set aside for retirement is insufficient to support her desired lifestyle, and she may need to take additional steps to supplement her savings.

    • As a new school board member, Maria often felt as though her input was as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the entrenched opinions and agendas of her more experienced colleagues.

      This idiom communicates the sense of powerlessness Maria may have experienced as a novice member of the school board. It suggests that Maria's ideas and perspectives are trivial, just as a single drop of water is insignificant compared to the vastness of the ocean. Maria may have felt that her suggestions would be overlooked or disregarded by her more senior peers, who have had ample opportunity to make their mark on the board's policies and decisions.

    • Despite winning several awards and accolades, Sarah's success in the music industry is still as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.

      This idiom is used to convey the idea that Sarah's achievements are minuscule in comparison to Taylor Swift's immense popularity and success. The use of the ocean as a metaphor represents a vast and limitless expanse, while the drop signifies something very small and insignificant in comparison. The idiom emphasizes the idea that Sarah is a relatively unknown artist in the grand scheme of things, despite her own individual accomplishments.

    • The small donation that Anna made to the charity was as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the millions of dollars that Bill Gates has given away over the years.

      This idiom is used to illustrate the fact that Anna's charitable contribution is relatively insignificant when compared to the substantial amount that Bill Gates has contributed. Again, the ocean represents a vast and immeasurable quantity, while the drop represents something inconsequential. This idiom is often used to highlight the scale of a situation, and to emphasize how minuscule or unimportant something may appear in contrast to other situations on a larger scale.

    • After years of struggling to get noticed in the industry, Emily's success finally hit the mainstream, but her success is still as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the likes of Lady Gaga or Beyoncé.

      This idiom is used to describe how Emily's success is very small in comparison to the colossal successes of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. The ocean represents the boundless expanse of the music industry, while the drop represents Emily's smaller amount of recognition. The point of this figurative language is to underline Emily's comparatively lesser-known status in contrast to the global fame of other prominent figures in the industry.

    • The little difference that John's suggestion made at the meeting was as small as a drop in the ocean compared to the monumental decisions that the CEO has been making for years.

      This idiom is used to convey the insignificance of John's suggestion in front of the huge number of executive decisions taken by the CEO over the years. Again, the ocean represents the broad expanse of executive decision making in the company, while the drop represents John's relatively small contribution. The focus of this idiom is to illustrate the minuscule difference that John's suggestion made in comparison to the plethora of major decisions that the CEO has taken previously.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "as small as a drop in the ocean" is used to convey the idea of something being extremely tiny or having minimal impact in comparison to a much larger scale. It is often used to emphasize the insignificance of an object, action, or contribution when faced with a vast or overwhelming context. This idiom serves to illustrate the idea of something being so minute that it hardly makes a difference in the grand scheme of things.

    In everyday conversations, this idiom is employed to underscore the idea of something being insignificant or having little effect. It can be used to express the futility of certain actions or the minimal importance of particular details. By likening something to a "drop in the ocean," speakers can effectively convey the idea of its smallness or lack of significance.

    Origin of "as small as a drop in the ocean"

    The origin of the idiom "as small as a drop in the ocean" can be traced back to the concept of the vastness of the ocean. The ocean is a symbol of immense size and depth, representing something vast and boundless. A single drop of water in the ocean seems minuscule and inconsequential in comparison to the vast expanse of water surrounding it. This imagery has been used metaphorically to describe something as tiny or insignificant in relation to a much larger scale.

    The idiom likely originated from the observation of the vastness of the ocean and the realization of how small a single drop of water appears in that context. Over time, this comparison evolved into a commonly used phrase to describe something as small or insignificant. The imagery of a drop in the ocean continues to be a powerful and evocative way to convey the idea of something being extremely tiny or having minimal impact.