A drop in the bucket

Definition & Meaning of "a drop in the bucket"

a drop in the bucket

an amount that is very small in comparison to what is desired or needed to have a significant effect

What is the origin of the idiom "a drop in the bucket" and when to use it?

The idiom "a drop in the bucket" has its origins in biblical language and can be traced back to the King James Version of the Bible. It appears in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verse 15, where it is used metaphorically to describe something insignificant in comparison to a larger quantity. This phrase is used to describe something that is very small or insignificant when compared to the larger context or quantity it is a part of.

Example

The company's profit margin is so vast that a minor loss in one department is considered a drop in the bucket.

In the grand scheme of things, a single missed opportunity is just a drop in the bucket of your life's journey.

Your donation of $10 to the charity is appreciated, but it's just a drop in the bucket comThe repair costs for the old building are astronomical, and our budget allocation is a mere drop in the bucket.