pond
A small, still area of water, like a tiny lake, often in a garden, park, or field.
A small, usually still body of water, natural or artificial, that is smaller than a lake.
When water stays on a surface and makes a small, shallow pool because it cannot flow away.
(Of water) to collect and remain in a shallow pool on a surface, especially because it cannot drain away.
- Base: pond
- Plural: ponds
- Base: pond
- 3rd Person Singular: ponds
- Present Participle: ponding
- Past: ponded
a big fish in a small pond
1Important only in a small group
A person who is powerful or famous in a small place or group, but would not be so important in a larger or more competitive place.
- He’s a big fish in a small pond at his local company, but nobody knows him outside the region.
- She enjoyed being a big fish in a small pond and didn’t want to move to a larger city.
- The star player left the team because he didn’t want to be just a big fish in a small pond anymore.
across the pond
1In the US/UK, on the other side
Used by people in the UK or US to mean in, to, or from the country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean (for example, UK speakers mean the US, and US speakers mean the UK or Europe).
- She moved across the pond to study at a university in Boston.
- The show is popular on both sides of the Atlantic, but it started across the pond.
- Our company is opening its first office across the pond next year.
both sides of the pond
1In both the US and UK
Used to talk about people, things, or events in both the main English-speaking regions on each side of the Atlantic Ocean, usually the US and the UK (or Europe).
- The band has fans on both sides of the pond.
- Her books sell well on both sides of the pond.
- The series became a hit on both sides of the pond after it went online.
this side of the pond
1In the speaker's own region
Used mainly in the UK and US to mean in the speaker’s own country or region on their side of the Atlantic Ocean.
- He’s one of the best guitarists on this side of the pond.
- The show hasn’t aired on this side of the pond yet.
- Prices are much higher on this side of the pond than in the US.