What does ‘the lion's share’ mean?
To “the lion's share” means to the largest portion. Brewer's cites Aesop's fable in which the lion, hunting with weaker beasts, claims the whole prey by threats — the 'lion's share' is thus all or nearly all.
Origin
- Brewer's cites Aesop's fable in which the lion, hunting with weaker beasts, claims the whole prey by threats — the 'lion's share' is thus all or nearly all.
How to use it
- Modern use is milder — simply the biggest slice.
- Example: The lion's share of the profits went to the founders.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.