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Stand on Someone's Shoulders

What Does "Stand on Someone's Shoulders" Mean?

homeidiomsStand on Someone's Shoulders
"Stand on someone's shoulders" is an English idiom. It means "to build upon the achievements, work, or knowledge of those who came before, often to achieve greater success."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "stand on someone's shoulders" used in a sentence:
  • The advancements in technology today stand on the shoulders of brilliant inventors and innovators from the past.
  • Many successful entrepreneurs stand on the shoulders of mentors and business leaders who guided them.
  • The field of astronomy has stood on the shoulders of astronomers who made groundbreaking discoveries.
meaning for stand on someone's shoulders

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Stand on Someone's Shoulders" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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