逃げた魚は大きい

にげたさかなはおおきい
Frequency:
1

A proverb meaning that things you missed or lost often seem better or bigger than they really were — 'the fish that got away is always the biggest.'

ExpressionI-AdjectiveProverb

Examples

昔の恋人のことを考えると、つい『逃げた魚は大きい』と思ってしまう。

When I think about an old lover I missed, I can't help thinking 'the fish that got away is the biggest.'

あの仕事を断った後で条件が良く見えてきて、まさに逃げた魚は大きいと感じた。

After turning down that job, its conditions started to look better — I really felt the fish that got away is the biggest.

釣り人が大きな魚を逃がして、『逃げた魚は大きい』と言った。

The angler lost a big fish and said, 'the fish that got away is always the biggest.'