World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesgoutte d'eau dans la mer
Pronunciation / Transliteration: goot doh dans lah mair
"Ce don n'est qu'une goutte d'eau dans la mer."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A very small, insignificant amount in comparison to the immense amount needed or available.
"The small donation was just a drop in the ocean compared to the millions required for the project." - 2
An amount so small that it will have virtually no noticeable effect on a situation.
"Reducing household water usage by a few gallons is a drop in the ocean during a severe regional drought."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from ancient biblical and philosophical idioms comparing an individual element to the vastness of the sea, popularized in English literature during the late Middle English period. The imagery reflects the extreme disproportion between a minute quantity and an overwhelmingly massive totality.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Drop in the ocean"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Drop in the ocean" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
goutte d'eau dans la mer
Transliteration: goot doh dans lah mair
"Ce don n'est qu'une goutte d'eau dans la mer."
Tropfen auf den heißen Stein
Transliteration: tropfen auf den haisen shtayn
"Diese Spende ist nur ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein."
goccia nell'oceano
Transliteration: got-cha nel-lo-cha-no
"Il nostro contributo è solo una goccia nell'oceano."
gota en el océano
Transliteration: go-ta en el o-ce-a-no
"Esta ayuda es solo una gota en el océano."
gota no oceano
Transliteration: go-ta no o-se-a-nu
"O dinheiro arrecadado foi apenas uma gota no oceano."
ऊंट के मुंह में जीरा
Transliteration: oont ke muh mein jeera
"यह दान समुद्र में एक बूंद के समान है।"
杯水车薪
Transliteration: bēi shuǐ chē xīn
"这些钱对于庞大的债务来说只是杯水车薪。"
새발의 피
Transliteration: saebal-ui pi
"그가 낸 성금은 전체 예산에 비하면 새발의 피다."
大海の一滴
Transliteration: taikai no itteki
"私の寄付など大海の一滴にすぎません。"
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