a drop in the ocean
noun phrase
British, informal
: an amount that is so small that it does not make an important difference or have much effect
They need to raise thousands of pounds for this project, so our 20-pound donation is just a drop in the ocean.
Examples of a drop in the ocean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The volume of wine produced in Denmark is a drop in the ocean compared to the volume of wine consumed.
—
Paul Caputo, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Although Miller was stationed on the opposite side of the room, away from the sea of rosy DWC members, at that moment her personal fashion choice was a drop in the ocean.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Seventy-six fake papers suddenly seemed like a drop in the ocean.
—Guillaume Cabanac, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025
And while the number of apprenticeship opportunities in America is growing—and is predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to continue to do so—the 600,000 individuals currently on such schemes are a drop in the ocean compared to millions of college undergraduates.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
While there’s certainly optimism to be gleaned in Murray’s projection of 16 million paying VOD subscribers in Africa by 2029 — up from just 8 million at the end of last year — that figure represents just a drop in the ocean on a continent of more than 1.2 billion.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Nippon Steel’s purchase of U.S. Steel is a drop in the ocean of foreign investment in the United States.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
Meanwhile, Google Music looks like a drop in the ocean compared with the company’s mammoth advertising business.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 6 Dec. 2023
But aid groups say supplies entering by truck are still a drop in the ocean compared to the need.
—Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
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Paul Caputo, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Although Miller was stationed on the opposite side of the room, away from the sea of rosy DWC members, at that moment her personal fashion choice was a drop in the ocean.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Seventy-six fake papers suddenly seemed like a drop in the ocean.
—Guillaume Cabanac, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025
And while the number of apprenticeship opportunities in America is growing—and is predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to continue to do so—the 600,000 individuals currently on such schemes are a drop in the ocean compared to millions of college undergraduates.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
While there’s certainly optimism to be gleaned in Murray’s projection of 16 million paying VOD subscribers in Africa by 2029 — up from just 8 million at the end of last year — that figure represents just a drop in the ocean on a continent of more than 1.2 billion.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Nippon Steel’s purchase of U.S. Steel is a drop in the ocean of foreign investment in the United States.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
Meanwhile, Google Music looks like a drop in the ocean compared with the company’s mammoth advertising business.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 6 Dec. 2023
But aid groups say supplies entering by truck are still a drop in the ocean compared to the need.
—Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“A drop in the ocean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20drop%20in%20the%20ocean. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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