big fish in a small pond

An individual who is important or prominent only in a small group. This cliché, of American provenance, is used both dis- paragingly (“He’s the firm’s general counsel, but since there are only three employees he’s just a big fish in a small pond”) and more positively (“She didn’t get accepted to the university, but it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond”).