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REFERENCE

stand on someone's shoulders

idiom
Meaning

To build on the previous discoveries or creativity of someone.


Origin

disputed origin

Generalization of stand on the shoulders of giants.

Examples
SIMPLE

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

CONTEXTUAL

The young scientist acknowledged that her new discovery was only possible because she stood on the shoulders of her mentors.

COMPLEX

By synthesizing centuries of philosophical inquiry, the author demonstrated that every great thinker ultimately stands on the shoulders of their predecessors.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  2. 02

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  3. 03

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  4. 04

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  5. 05

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  6. 06

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  7. 07

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  8. 08

    be someone's to lose

    To be anticipated to be won by someone.

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