a little bird told
a little birdie told
To have learned something from a mysterious, unknown, or secret source.
О ситуации когда информация получена из неизвестного источника; "слухом земля полнится"; "сорока на хвосте принесла".
"Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?" Peter asked. "A little bird told me," Jim answered.
A little bird told me that you are getting married soon.
Мне по секрету рассказали, что ты скоро женишься.
I’m sure a little birdie told you about my experience at work.
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
A person who knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make bad mistakes. A proverb.
John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
a little
A small amount (of); some. Usually a little is different in meaning from little, which emphasizes the negative; a little means some; but little means not much.
"We thought that the paper was all gone, but a little was left."
"We thought we still had a bag of flour, but little was left."
"Bob was sick yesterday, but he is a little better today."
"Bob was sick yesterday, and he is little better today."
We have used most of the sugar; but a little is left.
We did not eat all the cake; we saved a little of it for you.
I'm tired; I need a little time to rest.
Where is the paper? I need a little more.
Sometimes a little is used with only, and then it is negative.
We thought we had a whole bag of flour, but only a little was left.
Often used like an adverb.
Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she danced a little to show them how.
The children wanted to play a little longer.
Sometimes used with very for emphasis.
The sick girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very little tea.
fix someone's wagon
fix someone's little red wagon
(Said to a child as a threat) to administer a spanking.
Stop that right away or I'll fix your (little red) wagon!
(Said of an adult) to thwart or frustrate another, to engineer his failure.
If he sues me for slander, I will counter-sue him for malicious prosecution. That will fix his wagon!
great oaks from little acorns grow
As great oak trees grow from tiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small and unimportant beginning, so be patient. A proverb.
Many great men were once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow.
little by little
step by step
Gradually, slowly.
Karen's health seems to be improving little by little.
If you study regularly each day, step by step your vocabulary will increase.
little does one think
To not realize; not expect; be hardly aware of.
Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the father of twin daughters.
little frog in a big pond
small frog in a big pond
An unimportant person in a large group or organization.
In a large company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little frog in a big pond.
When Bill transferred to a larger high school, he found himself a small frog in a big pond.