a drop in the bucket bucket, drop

x-ace

a drop in the bucket沧海一粟/这根本就不算什么/这只不过是九牛 一毛。
　　Definition: a very small amount in comparison to the whole
　　“水桶中的一滴水”这个惯用语很容易让人想起汉语中“沧海一粟”，实际上，“a drop in the bucket"多用于美语，也可说成"a drop in the ocean"，表示同整体比起来，只占很小的一部分或者是和较大、较多、较重要的事物比，并不算什么。
　　例句：A hundred thousand may seem a lot but it's a drop in the bucket/ocean compared to the millions that need to be spent. "又如，I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in the bucket.顺便说一句，bucket一词所指的桶，一般就指我们以前家里用来提水或者提砂子/油漆用的桶。我们平常说倾盆大雨，大家比较熟悉it rains cats and dogs.其实还有更相近的It rains buckets.
　　Example dialog:
　　A: Wow, the flowers for your wedding cost you one thousand dollars?
天哪，你结婚鲜花就得花1000？
　　B: That's just a drop in the bucket compared to the other expenses
比起其他花费，这根本就不算什么/这只不过是九牛一毛。