- The largest portion or biggest part of something.
Explanation
Origin
- This phrase comes from Aesop's Fables, specifically the fable The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass (or variations with other animals).
- In the fable, the animals hunt together, but the powerful lion claims most or all of the spoils for various reasons (his status, his effort, or simply because he can), leaving little or nothing for the others.
- It signifies an unequal, often unfair, distribution where the most powerful or dominant party takes the majority.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Informal:
- The biggest slice of the pie
- The main chunk
- Hogging it all (Implies greediness)
Formal:
- The preponderance
- The substantial majority
- The principal part
Situational Appropriateness
- Acceptable in most contexts, including informal and semi-formal business settings.
- Carries a slight connotation of potential unfairness, reflecting its origin.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Relatively straightforward idiom, unlikely to cause major misunderstanding beyond not knowing the phrase.
Examples
- The CEO took the lion's share of the profits.
- Although we all worked on the project, she got the lion's share of the credit.
- He ate the lion's share of the pizza, leaving only one slice for the rest of us.
Dialogue
Chris: How did the inheritance get divided?
Dana: Well, the eldest son got the lion's share – the house, the stocks, everything valuable.
Chris: Seriously? What about the other siblings?
Dana: They got smaller amounts. Predictably, they're not happy.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Big tech companies take the lion's share of ad revenue, leaving smaller publishers struggling. #media #economics
- Forum Post: In our group project, one person did the lion's share of the work but we all got the same grade. Annoying. #collegelife
- News Headline Snippet: ...arguing that executives received the lion's share of bonuses while employees faced cuts.
Response Patterns
- That doesn't seem fair.
- Wow, really?
- Typical.
- Well, they did do most of the work. (If justifying)
- Acknowledgment: I see., Right.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Questioning the fairness (Why did they get so much?).
- Discussing the reasons for the unequal distribution.
- Expressing agreement or disagreement with the distribution.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to describe a distribution within a specific context, not usually to initiate a conversation.
Intonation
- Emphasis typically falls on LION'S share.
- The tone can be neutral, resentful, or simply descriptive, depending on the context.
Generation Differences
- Understood and used across generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.