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to take advantage of the understanding and discoveries of influential figures who have been through the same or similar intellectual progress
![to [stand] on the shoulders of giants definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/44802/original/?type=jpeg "to [stand] on the shoulders of giants definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "stand on the shoulders of giants" and when to use it?
The idiom "stand on the shoulders of giants" has its origins in a letter written by Sir Isaac Newton to fellow scientist Robert Hooke in 1676. In this letter, Newton wrote, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." Today, the idiom is used to acknowledge that progress and success are often the result of the work, discoveries, or wisdom of those who have paved the way. It emphasizes the importance of respecting and benefiting from the knowledge and achievements of those who have come before us.
