a big fish in a small pond
noun phrase
chiefly US
: a person who is very well known or important in a small group of people but who is not known or important outside that group
In school he was a big fish in a small pond, but once he moved to the city he was just another struggling actor.
Examples of a big fish in a small pond in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yaacov was a big fish in a small pond this past season, putting up big numbers in the Belgian league, which is not exactly Europe’s strongest.
—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Maddy replies that Cassie might currently just be a big fish in a small pond.
—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Tiafoe—who signed with Lululemon back in January, becoming the brand’s biggest tennis star—echoed the sentiment of wanting to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a medium-sized fish in a big pond.
—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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John Hollinger,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Maddy replies that Cassie might currently just be a big fish in a small pond.
—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Tiafoe—who signed with Lululemon back in January, becoming the brand’s biggest tennis star—echoed the sentiment of wanting to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a medium-sized fish in a big pond.
—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“A big fish in a small pond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20big%20fish%20in%20a%20small%20pond. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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