Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase from the options:
'the lion's share'
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
The largest part
Explanation
The question asks for the correct meaning of the idiom 'the lion's share.' The correct choice is The largest part.
This idiom is used to describe the majority, the biggest percentage, or the prime chunk of something that is being divided up. For example, if a group of people win a prize and one person takes 80% of the money, that person took 'the lion's share.'
The other choices are incorrect because they contradict the unequal, dominant nature of the phrase:
'A fair portion' implies a justified or reasonable amount, which doesn't capture the idea of taking almost everything.
'A small contribution' means a tiny input, which is the exact opposite of the idiom's meaning.
'An equal distribution' means everyone gets the exact same amount, which stands completely opposite to a single entity taking the maximum portion.
Because none of the other options represent taking the majority or bulk of an asset, 'The largest part' is the accurate answer.
Key Points
Knowing the origin of popular idioms makes them intuitive and easy to recall during exams.
The phrase comes from Aesop's Fables, a collection of ancient stories. In one famous tale, a lion goes hunting with several other animals. When it comes time to divide the meat they captured, the lion claims all the shares for himself using different excuses, backed up by his sheer power and strength as the king of the jungle. From this story, 'the lion's share' came to mean taking the absolute biggest piece of the pie.