to stand on someone's shoulders
- idiom
- Formal
:
apoyarse en los logros de otros
- You, Don, have been standing on someone's shoulders.
Examples
-
He acknowledged that his success was due to standing on someone's shoulders of the pioneers in technology.
-
As an inventor, she always stands on someone's shoulders of great scientists who contributed to her field.
-
Students often stand on someone's shoulders of their professors' research to develop new theories.
Synonyms
179
3.4
Use something you already have as a base for new work
26
3.4
Use something as a base for further work
4
5.7
Make progress by using the ideas and work of earlier people
2
5.6
Make new progress by using important ideas or work from people who came before
Antonyms
How Much
- Formal
2
5.6
- Formal
179
3.4
121
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
stand + on + someone's + shoulder
The phrase uses a clear physical image—literally standing on someone’s shoulders—that metaphorically conveys building on others’ achievements, so the literal meanings of the words provide a strong clue. However, the abstract sense of ‘using others’ knowledge or discoveries to make progress’ is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, although cross-linguistic parallels (e.g. “standing on the shoulders of giants”) can help.
Etymology
Stand on someone's shoulders comes from the image of one person standing on another's shoulders so they can see farther and reach higher. That's why it now means 'to use the knowledge or work of people who came before you to make more progress'.