Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

drop in the bucket

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.02 in modern English

Syllables: drop in the buck-et
IPA

29

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

2

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Something of little importance, especially an inconsequential effort or action as compared to a huge problem.

Example Sentences

"A $100 donation from an individual is generous, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the $100,000 fundraising goal."

Etymology

First used in Wycliffe's Bible, from Isaiah 40:15.

Inflected Forms

drops in the bucket (plural)

Synonyms

drop in the ocean drop in the sea spit in the ocean bagatelle bag of shells bric-a-brac dicky dicky-bird fico fig flamfew flyspeck

Questions

What does drop in the bucket mean?: Something of little importance, especially an inconsequential effort or action as compared to a huge problem.
Where does drop in the bucket come from?: First used in Wycliffe's Bible, from Isaiah 40:15.

How to pronounce drop in the bucket

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “drop in the bucket”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “drop in the bucket” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.