Lion’s share

Meaning

The idiom "lion's share" refers to a large or significant portion of something that is considered important or valuable. It is often used to describe the lion's share of responsibility, authority, or influence in a group.

Usage

• The CEO of the company always takes the lion's share of credit for the company's success.
• The lion's share of the blame for the failure of the project falls on the project manager.
• The lion's share of the work was done by a small group of employees.
• The lion's share of the profits went to the top executives.
• The lion's share of the responsibility for the safety of the workers lies with the company.

Roots and History

The idiom "lion's share" has its roots in ancient mythology, where lions were often associated with power, strength, and courage. In many cultures, lions were revered as symbols of leadership and authority. Over time, the idiom has been used to describe a wide range of situations where someone or something is considered important or valuable. It has become a common metaphor for describing the lion's share of responsibility, authority, or influence in a group.

Synonyms in English

• The majority share
• A big chunk of
• A large portion of
• A substantial part of
• A significant portion of

Synonyms in other languages

• 大切な部分 (nagashira no bunshi) - Japanese
• 중요한 부분 (chungyouhan bupjin) - Korean
• 重要的一部分 (zhuoyao de yī bù fēng) - Mandarin Chinese
• بیگ ئالتومان ئىسی (biyiyi al-tomaman esy) - Arabic
• لواء الدوحة (luwa' al-dawhat) - Arabic

Similar Idioms

• wag the dog

• low hanging fruit

• dog in the manger