 Welcome to English in a Minute. A pond is a small body of water. They often have fish in them. So what could this mean? Big Fish in a Small Pond Jonathan, Jackie got a promotion. But it's in New York City. Um, what do you mean by but? That sounds great. She lives in a small town and likes being a big fish in a small pond. That's true. New York City is definitely not a small pond. A big fish in a small pond describes a person who's considered important within a small group. Some people like feeling this way. But be careful. This expression can be an insult. And that's English in a Minute.