Idiom - A drop in the ocean

Study the idiom and complete the activities below.

• A drop in the ocean (or A drop in the bucket): A very small amount of something compared to the amount that is needed or expected; an amount that is so small that it has very little effect on a large situation.
  (Equivalent in Portuguese: Uma gota no oceano / Uma gota no balde)
  • My small donation feels like a drop in the ocean compared to the millions of dollars the charity needs. (Minha pequena doação parece uma gota no oceano comparada aos milhões de dólares que a instituição de caridade precisa.)
  • The company's new recycling program is a great start, but it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the total waste they produce. (O novo programa de reciclagem da empresa é um ótimo começo, mas é apenas uma gota no oceano comparado ao lixo total que eles produzem.)
  • Learning ten new words a day might seem like a drop in the ocean, but over a year, it makes a huge difference! (Aprender dez palavras novas por dia pode parecer uma gota no oceano, mas ao longo de um ano, faz uma enorme diferença!)

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Gap Fill

Complete the sentences using the idiom "a drop in the ocean" or "a drop in the bucket".

1. The government sent 500 blankets to the disaster zone, but that is just considering thousands are homeless.

2. I saved fifty dollars this month, but it's compared to the price of the car I want to buy.

3. One person picking up trash on the beach is helpful, but without a big team, it feels like .

4. The two hours I studied this weekend are only ; I have a lot more to cover for the exam.

5. Increasing the budget by $100 was , as the project needs thousands more to finish.

Activity 2: Unscramble the Sentences

Rearrange the words to create correct sentences using the idiom.

1. bucket / is / small / extra / in / the / help / a / just / drop / .

2. the / felt / like / my / ocean / in / contribution / a / drop / .

3. compared / it / is / a / the / problem / in / drop / bucket / to / .

4. millionaires / for / hundred / is / a / drop / dollars / a / the / in / ocean / .

5. change / just / ocean / the / a / in / is / drop / this / minor / .

Activity 3: Reading Comprehension

Read the dialogue and answer the questions below.

Leo: I’m so frustrated, Sarah! I’ve been trying to clean up the local park for two hours, but there is still so much trash left.

Sarah: Don’t be discouraged, Leo. Every little bit helps.

Leo: I know, but look at all this plastic! My work today feels like a drop in the ocean. We need a whole community effort to really clean this place.

Sarah: You’re right, but your "drop" is the start of the "ocean." Maybe tomorrow we can invite more friends!

1. How does Leo feel about his work at the park?
Select... a) Proud and satisfied. b) Frustrated and overwhelmed. c) Excited and energetic.

2. What does Leo mean when he says his work is "a drop in the ocean"?
Select... a) He is working near the water. b) His individual effort is very small compared to the total problem. c) He is using water to clean the park.

3. What is Sarah’s suggestion for the next day?
Select... a) To stop cleaning the park. b) To go to the ocean instead. c) To invite more people to help.