{"id":4121,"date":"2022-06-06T00:04:34","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T00:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4121"},"modified":"2022-06-06T00:04:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T00:04:34","slug":"lions-share-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/lions-share-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Lion's Share \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to describe someone taking the largest share of the pizza you have for lunch? You could say that they took \u201cthe lion\u2019s share<\/em>\u201d of the pie. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cthe lion\u2019s share<\/em>\u201d means getting the larger portion of something. You take the prime piece of the reward or meal and leave the scraps for others. If you\u2019re taking the lion's share of something, it may cause resentment among the other parties involved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The lion is the king of the jungle and is entitled to the \u201clion's share<\/em>\u201d of something. You can think of it as another way of telling people you\u2019re taking more as a tax because of the value you bring to the project. The lion's share can refer to dividing up anything between parties where one individual gets more than the rest.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cI\u2019m expecting us to net over a million from this deal. I\u2019ll be getting the lion\u2019s share of the return due to providing the bulk of the investment into the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDad always makes sure he gets the lion\u2019s share of the ribeye at dinner. He loves steak, and we all let him have as much as he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can have the lion\u2019s share of the attention at the event. I\u2019ll just chill in the background and let you steal the limelight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to take the lion\u2019s share of the deal, that\u2019s okay. If you think I don\u2019t deserve an equal share, we just won\u2019t work together again, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you getting the lion\u2019s share of the winnings? You didn\u2019t put in any extra money, so why do you deserve it over the rest of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is it that Mike always gets the lion\u2019s share of the ice cream, and we all get his leftovers? I think it\u2019s unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cthe lions share\u201d originates from the early 18th century. The first appearance of the saying in writing comes from Aesop\u2019s Fables, published in 1701. The fable describes a lion accompanying three other beasts on a hunting expedition.<\/p>\n

When dividing the spoils with the others, the lion takes the first portion for his title as king of the jungle. He takes the second for his role in the hunt. He claims the third because he is the strongest in the group and the final piece because that\u2019s the way he says it is.<\/p>\n

The moral of the story is \u201cOne may share the labors, but will not share the spoils.\u201d<\/p>\n

The saying changed over time. Now it means the larger share rather than the whole portion.<\/p>\n