“Drop in the Bucket” Meaning, Origin and Examples

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If you listen to English conversation, you may hear the term ‘drop in the bucket.’ But what do people mean when the use this phrase? We will take a look at the meaning of the term, where it came from and how it can best be used in conversation.

“Drop in the Bucket” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “drop in the bucket” refers to a very small or insignificant amount in comparison to what is needed or expected. It suggests that something is minimal relative to a larger context or goal, often indicating that the contribution or effort is too small to make a meaningful impact.
Drop in the Bucket
Drop in the Bucket – Created by 7ESL

“Drop in the Bucket” Meaning

The phrase “drop in the bucket” refers to a very small or insignificant amount compared to what is needed or expected. It implies that the contribution or effort made is so minimal that it has little to no impact on the overall situation.

Examples:

  • “The donation was just a drop in the bucket compared to the amount needed for the project.”
  • “With so many people affected by the disaster, our efforts felt like a drop in the bucket.”

Origin of The Idiomatic Phrase

This common idiom has been around since biblical times, and comes from a passage which is taken from the bible that reads ‘ Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.’ The term became popular as an idiom in the 1300s.

Usage of “Drop in the Bucket”

  • In a fundraising context:

“While we appreciate every contribution, the amount raised so far is just a drop in the bucket compared to our goal.”

  • Talking about efforts in a large project:

“The team’s recent improvements are a drop in the bucket when you consider the entire scope of the renovation.”

  • During a discussion about expenses:

“That small savings on our budget is a drop in the bucket compared to the overall costs we face.”

  • In a conversation about personal contributions:

“What I can donate is just a drop in the bucket for this charity, but every little bit helps.”

Related Terms to “Drop in the Bucket”

  • A small fraction – a tiny part of a whole, indicating that the amount is negligible.
  • A mere pittance – a very small or insufficient amount of money or resources.
  • A drop in the ocean – similar to “drop in the bucket,” emphasizing how small something is compared to a larger quantity.
  • Token effort – a minimal or superficial attempt that does not make a significant impact.
  • Insignificant – lacking in importance or value; trivial.
  • Minimal contribution – a small input that does not substantially affect the overall outcome.
  • Negligible amount – so small that it can be disregarded or is unimportant.
  • Microscopic – extremely small; often used to emphasize the insignificance of something.
  • Little to no impact – indicating that an action or contribution does not significantly affect the situation.
  • Small change – a minimal amount or minor adjustment that does not lead to significant outcomes.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

There are other ways you might express the meaning of the term ‘drop in the bucket.’ Here are some examples of other ways you can say the phrase.

  • Drop in the ocean
  • A little gesture
  • Mere pittance

“Drop in the Bucket” Examples

You would use the phrase ‘drop in the bucket’ when talking about something that has taken place that is insignificant or does not make a huge difference to the overall picture. A good example of its use might be ‘Your donation of £10 was really kind, but it was really only a drop in the bucket compared to the £1 million we need to raise.’

Example Sentences

  • To buy an expensive car is not just a drop in the bucket for her.
  • This business is just a drop in the bucket of what he owns.
  • The amount being spent on scientific research is a drop in the bucket.
  • For a millionaire, the cost of a luxury car is a drop in the bucket.
  • Well, my knowledge in the field is but a drop in the bucket.
  • Third World debt is so massive that recent pledges to reduce or forgive it are just a drop in the bucket.

Conversation Examples

If you would like to know how the term ‘drop in the bucket’ would fit into an every day conversation, you can read the following examples to give you more of an idea of how the phrase works.

Conversation 1:

  • Person 1: “John needs 5000 cans of food for the food bank.”
  • Person 2: “I can buy ten but that’s really just a drop in the bucket.”

Conversation 2:

  • Person 1: “I gave Adam five minutes of my time for him to talk about his problems.”
  • Person 2: “Did he need a lot more than that?”
  • Person 1: “It was only a drop in the bucket compared to how much time he really needed.”
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