The bigger they are the harder they fall

Posted by ESC on August 03, 2010 at 16:48

In Reply to: The bigger they are the harder they fall posted by Ruth Maddison on August 03, 2010 at 13:02:

: Anyone know the origin of the phrase "The bigger they are the harder they fall"?

The saying is old and the idea is ancient. Traced back to "Dives and Pauper" by H. Parker. Current form attributed to British-born world heavyweight boxer Bob Fitzsimmons (1858-1917). Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996). Page 30. Source 2 points to the David and Goliath story in the Bible and, 2,300 years ago, The Histories of Herodotus: "It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness." The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Wings Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985). Page 25.

• The bigger they come... ESC 03/August/10
  • The bigger they come... David FG 04/August/10
    • The bigger they come... ESC 04/August/10