Lion's share 🦁🍰

Meaning

The largest or best portion of something, often acquired unfairly or disproportionately.

Origin

A classic tale from Aesop's Fables perfectly illustrates the origin of 'the lion's share.' In one popular version, a lion, a fox, and an ass went hunting together. After catching a wild ass, the lion divided the spoils into three equal parts. But then, the cunning lion declared, 'The first portion is mine, as king of the beasts. The second is mine by right of my superior strength. And if you dare touch the third, you'll regret it.' This intimidating declaration, leaving nothing for his hunting partners, starkly painted the picture of the powerful claiming the vast majority, thus cementing the phrase in our language as early as the 14th century.

Lion's share represented with emoji🦁🍰

This playful juxtaposition of a majestic lion and a delightful cake invites us to consider the concept of the 'lion's share.' It functions as a whimsical reminder of abundance and the often disproportionate distribution of good things, prompting a reflection on fairness and desire.

Examples

• Even though everyone contributed to the project, she ended up taking the lion's share of the credit.
• As the founder, he naturally received the lion's share of the profits when the company was sold.