David and Goliath
Underdog versus giant
David and Goliath describes a contest between a much smaller or weaker party and a dominant one, from the biblical story of a young shepherd who killed a giant warrior with a sling.
The phrase usually implies the underdog might prevail: It was a David and Goliath matchup, but the startup beat the industry giant.
Often used as a modifier: a David-and-Goliath battle.
- shepherdOne who tends flocks
- giantBeing of huge size
- big guyLarge, imposing man
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- slingStrap-based support or launcher
smooth stones · Philistine · stone · underdog · against all odds · long shot · fighting chance · armor · triumph · Saul · courage · unlikely hero · imbalance · Spartacus · Robin Hood · champion · resilience · defeat
- Bible for kidschildren's Bible, illustrated Bible, Bible stories, baby Jesus, Jonah and the whale
- Bible StoriesAdam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the whale, nativity, creation story
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit, Tower of Babel
- Biblical imageryLamb of God, Good Shepherd, bread of life, light of the world, living water
- AllusionsAchilles heel, Pandora's box, Trojan horse, forbidden fruit, Midas touch
- Biblical ScenesLast Supper, Annunciation, Adam and Eve, Resurrection, Garden of Eden
David and Goliathlevel playing field
Equal competitive conditions
clash of titans · equals · toss-up · heavyweight bout · competitive balance
David and Goliathforegone conclusion
Result assumed beforehand
steamroller · blowout · crushing defeat · survival of the fittest · punching down