minnows
minnows — noun
- minnowssingular
- minnowsesplural
1. a tiny freshwater fish that swims in rivers, streams, and ponds, often seen in l
a tiny freshwater fish that swims in rivers, streams, and ponds, often seen in large groups near the surface
Owen caught three minnows in a glass jar by the riverbank.
The children watched minnows dart between the smooth stones in the shallow stream.
collocation: minnows dart
A heron stood still in the water, waiting for minnows to swim past its legs.
Greta filled the classroom aquarium with a dozen minnows and some floating water plants.
Anglers often use live minnows as bait when they are trying to catch larger fish.
2. a person, company, or group that has very little power, money, or influence comp
a person, company, or group that has very little power, money, or influence compared with the dominant forces in the same field
Faisal's startup remained a minnow in an industry ruled by three tech giants.
metaphorical: a minnow in an industry
Apinya's three-person charity was a minnow next to the Oxfam teams unloading crates after the cyclone.
Talia handed out leaflets for Green Horizon, yet the party remained a minnow in the Bundestag.
Aoi's label was a minnow among top fashion brands, but her designs were bold.
The supermarket chain bought up several minnows in the local grocery market last year.
- small fry
same metaphor but much more informal; often dismissive
- nobody
only for people, never for companies or organisations
- lightweight
stresses lack of ability or substance, not just low status
- heavyweight
a person or group with great influence and power
- giant
a very large and dominant company, especially in business
用法筆記
Often used in business and politics to contrast small players with dominant ones. Usually plural when talking about a group of small companies.