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Eat an Elephant One Bite at a Time

What Does "Eat an Elephant One Bite at a Time" Mean?

homeidiomsEat an Elephant One Bite at a Time
"Eat an elephant one bite at a time" is an English idiom. It means "to approach a large or overwhelming task one step at a time, rather than trying to accomplish it all at once."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "eat an elephant one bite at a time" used in a sentence:
  • Don't get overwhelmed with the project, just remember to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
  • Rebuilding trust is like eating an elephant one bite at a time, it's a slow process.
  • Though the reading list was daunting, she tackled it by eating the elephant one bite at a time.
meaning for eat an elephant one bite at a time

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Eat an Elephant One Bite at a Time" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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