“Big fish in a small pond” refers to an individual or company that is prominent in a limited area, but may not be as successful in a larger environment. This can apply to various contexts, including social circles, businesses, and even ruling families. While sometimes used negatively, achieving prominence in a small community can be desirable and beneficial.
The colorful idiom “big fish in a small pond” refers to a situation where an individual is very prominent within a relatively small area or situation. This type of situation can exist in a number of contexts and usually implies that if the individual were to move to other circumstances encompassing a larger area or environment, he or she would not be as prominent. Used in a variety of contexts ranging from social circles to positioning within a business, or even a business within an industry, the term sometimes has to do with how the individual chooses to pursue their ambitions.
An example of a big fish in a small pond might be someone who grows up in a small town and chooses to build a life and career in that town, even though the individual might move to a metropolitan area and pursue the same type of career. In this scenario, staying in the small town where there is less competition increases your chances of gaining prominence in the local community. If that individual moved to a larger area where more people possessed similar skills, it is likely that while it would be possible to make a living, that individual would not enjoy the same high profile among their peers.
Companies can also be big fish in a small pond. When a business is the only one of its kind in a limited geographic area, consumers tend to turn to that business for certain goods and services rather than traveling out of town to secure those products elsewhere. When this is the case, the company enjoys a brisk business and a virtual monopoly in the local market. If that same business were to move to an area with a higher population and several businesses that offered the same products, the business could continue to do well financially, but it would lose the high level of importance it had. enjoys in the smaller community.
Being a big fish in a small pond can translate to other sectors of society as well. A ruling family associated with a specific house of worship can exert considerable influence over how money is spent by the organization. Even large investors in small companies can have a big influence on how the company operates. Even in local neighborhoods, there is always the possibility that one or two people will emerge as civic leaders, enjoying a degree of prominence that would not be possible if they lived in a larger community. While the term “big fish in a small pond” is sometimes used derisively, becoming an important part of a small community is nothing to be ashamed of; in many cases, those who achieve this level of prominence do so because their skills and talents are perceived to increase the quality of life in the area, an always desirable trait.
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