spit in the ocean
Meaningless small gesture
A spit in the ocean is a negligible amount compared to what's needed—something so small it makes no real difference.
The phrase evokes the futility of adding a single drop to a vast body of water: A thousand dollars is just a spit in the ocean when you're facing a million in debt.
- comparisonAssessment of similarities
- drop in the seaNegligible portion of something
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- small potatoesInsignificant things or people
- small fryChildren or insignificant people
infinitesimal · disproportionate · immeasurable · microscopic · overwhelming · negligible · minuscule · futility · inconsequential · pointless · pissing in the wind · lost cause · analogy · tide · drop in the bucket · spray · splash · seawater
spit in the oceangame changer
Decisive transformative factor
tipping point · watershed moment · sea change · cornerstone · critical mass
spit in the oceanlion's share
Greatest part of total
bulk · majority · the whole nine yards · preponderance · better part