a spit in the ocean
1
9.1
- idiom
- Informal
:
una gota en el océano
- His efforts to solve the issue were just a spit in the ocean against the scale of the crisis.
Examples
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The money we raised was a spit in the ocean compared to what the project needed.
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That's just a spit in the ocean!
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Giving up one plastic bag is a spit in the ocean when it comes to reducing pollution.
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Her donation was a spit in the ocean.
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The money we raised is just a spit in the ocean compared to the amount needed for the project.
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Donating twenty dollars felt like a spit in the ocean when the goal was to raise thousands.
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For a billionaire, a million dollars is merely a spit in the ocean.
Synonyms
15
4.9
A very small amount that does not help with a much larger problem
2
3.8
A very small amount compared with what is needed
A very small amount compared with what is needed
A very small amount compared with what is needed
Antonyms
How Significant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituents 'spit' (a very small amount) and 'ocean' (a vast expanse), joined by 'in', transparently convey the contrast between something tiny and something enormous, so the overall meaning 'a very small or insignificant amount' is directly inferable. This metaphoric SMALL-in-VAST imagery is cross-linguistically common (e.g. 'a drop in the ocean'), so an average B1 learner who knows the words would understand it.
Etymology
A spit in the ocean is like imagining a tiny spit dropped into the huge ocean so it disappears at once. That's why it means 'a very small amount' compared with the whole.