English Explanatory Dictionary

lion's share

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The majority; a large or generous portion.

Pronunciation

/ˈlaɪ.əns ʃɛə/ /ˈlaɪ.ənz ʃɛ(ə)ɹ/ en-au-lion's share.ogg

Word forms

lion's share the lion's share lion's shares lions' shares

Etymology

From Aesop’s fable The Lion's Share, in which a lion claims the full amount of the spoil after hunting with a number of other beasts. In one version of the fable, the lion claims three-quarters of the kill rather than the whole, leaving the three other animals to fight over the remainder.

Synonyms

leonine share
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