ðə ˈbɪɡər ðeɪ ɑːr ðə ˈhɑːrdər ðeɪ fɔːl
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- Large things fall with greater impact
What does "the bigger they are the harder they fall" mean?
- Powerful people/things experience greater failures
- The mighty have further to fall when they fail
Examples
- Don't be intimidated—the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
- The company's collapse proves the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
- He seemed invincible, but the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Origin
Attributed to boxer Bob Fitzsimmons before fighting a larger opponent in 1900. Based on physics—greater mass means harder impact.
How to use it
Encourages challenging powerful opponents. Often used about corporate or political failures.
Similar expressions
mighty fall hard
pride before a fall
Opposites
small fish swim safely
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "the bigger they are the harder they fall" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.