giant
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Related to giant: red giant
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a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants
A person whose insights, discoveries, or knowledge in general is not due to their own ingenuity, but rather due to the discoveries or previous work of great minds that have come before. Though this is indeed an exciting discovery toward curing cancer, I am but a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants. If I have been able to make any kind of success in this field, it is only because I am a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants who paved the way ahead of me. That scientist is so arrogant, with zero awareness that he's just a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants who came before him in the field of X-ray crystallography.
awaken a sleeping giant
To rouse, provoke, or galvanize the enormous or unstoppable latent power of some person, group, or thing. The political candidate has captured the attention and enthusiasm of young people from many different demographics, awakening a sleeping giant among voters. The country may be neutral, but they have an immense standing army. I fear we may awaken a sleeping giant if we initiate an attack against them.
battle of the giants
A conflict or competition between two or more powerful people, groups, or entities. Those are the two best teams in the league this year, so the championship game will really be a battle of the giants.
gentle giant
Someone who is very large and strong but has a quiet and gentle nature. At first, I was afraid of the big, burly man covered in tattoos, but when I saw him rescue that kitten from the tree, I realized he was just a gentle giant.
mental giant
An extremely intelligent person. Typically used sarcastically. Some mental giant thought it would be a good idea to connect the wires in reverse order. It doesn't take a mental giant to realize that this will be bad for business.
on the shoulders of giants
Having the discoveries or bodies of work of great minds that have come before as a basis for one's own discoveries, insights, or progress. Though this is indeed an exciting discovery toward curing cancer, we have stood on the shoulders of giants to reach this point today. If I have been able to make any kind of success in this field, it is only because I have been carried on the shoulders of giants who paved the way ahead of me.
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind
cliché A phrase typically said in reference to a breakthrough or advancement of some kind. Astronaut Neil Armstrong famously said the phrase in 1969 when he became the first person to set foot on the moon (though he later clarified that he said "one small step for a man"). I think the self-driving car will be one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. When we find a cure for this illness, it will be one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
sleeping giant
A country that is not currently very powerful or influential but has the potential to be due to its size, population, resources, military, etc. It is still not a major economic player at the moment, but with its huge population and rapidly expanding technological infrastructure, many see it as something of a sleeping giant. I fear we may wake a sleeping giant if we initiate an attack against the country.
stand on the shoulders of giants
To make discoveries, insights, or progress owing to the discoveries or previous work of great minds that have come before. Though this is indeed an exciting discovery toward curing cancer, we have stood on the shoulders of giants to reach this point today.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
sleeping giant
a great power that is still and waiting. The huge country to the south is a sleeping giant, waiting for its chance to become sufficiently industrialized to have real prosperity. The U.S. was a sleeping giant at the outbreak of both world wars.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
battle of the giants
a contest between two pre-eminent parties.This expression may be a reference to the battle between the giants and gods in Greek mythology.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
mental giant
n. a genius. I’m no mental giant, but I do know trouble when I see it.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.