Idiom: The lion's share

A lion holds a huge steak in its mouth and a mouse has a smaller steak. "Why should we split the dinner bill when you had the lion's share of the wine?"

Meaning of the lion's share

First, take a look at the picture and try to guess the meaning of the idiom 'the lion's share.'

The lion's share: The largest part (or share) of something.

Note:

It's important to notice that we are taking about the biggest part of something. We are not just saying that one thing is bigger than something else.

We are describing something that has been divided up in a way that someone is getting the biggest part of that thing.

So in this picture, we have a lion and we have a mouse.

To say that the lion has the lion's share, we must understand that both of those pieces of meat came from the same, larger piece of meat before it was divided.

Sentence examples

— My son is upset that his brother got the lion's share of the cake but I explained this was fair because it was his birthday.

— My husband does help out at home with some cleaning and cooking, but like most women, I do the lion's share of the housework.

— There aren't any more highlighter pens left! I know, the boss' secretary took the lion's share of the office supplies.

— Even though my sister is the skinniest, she always eat the lion's share of the pizza.

— The lion's share of my paycheck goes to meals and drinks out because I hate to cook and grocery shop.

— The lion's share of the budget is spent on salaries and benefits.

— I wish my father would eat the lion's share of the vegetables.

— My husband spent the lion's share of our vacation in the hotel room working at the computer.

— Why should we split the dinner bill when you had the lion's share of the wine?

Download your free illustrated idioms eBook!

Want to expand your idiom knowledge even further? Download our free eBook, '25 Illustrated Idioms,' to learn more useful expressions with fun visuals that make understanding idioms a breeze. Sign up now to get your free copy!

Idiom: The lion's share

Meaning of the lion's share

Sentence examples

Download your free illustrated idioms eBook!

You might like these other idioms