a big fish in a little pond
noun phrase
British
: 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 little pond, but once he moved to the city he was just another struggling actor.
Cite this Entry
“A big fish in a little pond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20big%20fish%20in%20a%20little%20pond. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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