Goliath

David and Goliath

A reference to the biblical story of David, a young shepherd who fells the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone from his sling.

1. noun A smaller, weaker, or less powerful person or thing who faces or stands up to a much bigger, stronger, or more powerful opponent. The small mom-and-pop shop is suing the global retail giant in court, in what has become a standoff between David and Goliath. I know I'm just one parent, and I don't care if it's like David and Goliath—what the school board is doing is wrong, and I am going to stop them! Right, like the head of the union is really going to listen to you. Get real, it's David and Goliath.

2. adjective Describing or related to something that involves such opponents. The gubernatorial election here is a real David and Goliath fight between an independent political newcomer and a seasoned politician with years of experience and the benefit of his party's coffers. It's your typical "skinny dork versus bully" David and Goliath schoolyard drama. It's always a David and Goliath battle when ordinary parents want the school board to make changes.

See also: and, David, Goliath

David-and-Goliath situation

A situation in which a smaller, weaker, or less powerful person or thing faces or stands up to a much bigger, stronger, or more powerful opponent. A reference to the biblical story of David, a young shepherd who fells the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone from his sling. A small mom-and-pop shop going up against the global retail giant in court is a real David-and-Goliath situation. The gubernatorial election here is a real David-and-Goliath situation between an independent political newcomer and a seasoned politician with years of experience and the benefit of his party's coffers. It's your typical "skinny dork versus bully" David and Goliath situation.

See also: situation

Goliath

A person, group, organization, etc., of immense power, influence, or achievement. A reference to the giant Philistine warrior in the Bible, whom the young shepherd David slayed as a boy with a stone from his sling. Now that she's a Goliath within the tech industry, it's hard to believe that she started her software company in her parents' basement. The small mom-and-pop shop is suing the global retail giant for copyright infringement. They may have a strong case, but they'll be taking on Goliath in court. It's your typical "skinny dork versus Goliath" bullying situation.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.