逃がした魚は大きい

にがしたさかなはおおきい
Frequency:
1

A proverb meaning that the fish you let escape seems bigger—people tend to idealize what they lost or missed out on, thinking it was better than it was.

ExpressionI-AdjectiveProverb

Examples

あの仕事を断ったことを後悔しているが、まさに逃がした魚は大きいと思っている。

I regret turning down that job; I really feel that the one that got away was the big fish.

別れた恋人のことを思うと、つい逃がした魚は大きいと言いたくなる。

When I think of my ex, I can't help but feel that the one who got away was the biggest fish.

投資で損をしたが、冷静に振り返ると逃がした魚は大きいというほどの話でもないことに気づいた。

I lost money on an investment, but looking back calmly I realized it wasn't really as great as 'the one that got away' makes it seem.