drop in the ocean

drop in the ocean

A tiny amount, especially when compared to a much larger one. I'm glad Tony started repaying the money he borrowed from me, but the five dollars he gave me yesterday is just a drop in the ocean compared to what he still owes.See also: drop, ocean

a drop in the ocean

BRITISH or

a drop in the bucket

AMERICANCOMMON If something, especially an amount of money, is a drop in the ocean, it is very small in comparison with the amount which is needed or expected. The size of the grants have been attacked by welfare groups as merely a drop in the ocean. The amount of mercury would be minuscule, a drop in the bucket compared to natural sources such as bacteria in soils. Note: This expression may come from a line in the Bible: `Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.' (Isaiah 40:15) See also: drop, ocean

a drop in the ocean (or in a bucket)

a very small amount compared with what is needed or expected. 1995 Ian Rankin Let It Bleed A few million was a drop in the ocean, hardly a ripple. See also: drop, ocean

a ˌdrop in the ˈocean

(British English) (American English a ˌdrop in the ˈbucket) a very small amount in comparison to the much larger amount that is needed: $10 million is only a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to help these people effectively.See also: drop, ocean