standing on the shoulders of giants vs the shoulders of giants

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Standing on the shoulders of giants' is a well-known metaphor meaning to use the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before in order to make intellectual progress. 'The shoulders of giants' can be used in a literal sense to refer to the physical shoulders of large people or in a metaphorical sense to imply the support or influence of important figures.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 821 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English as a metaphor for building on the work of those who came before.

"standing on the shoulders of giants"

This phrase is used metaphorically to convey the idea of using the knowledge and discoveries of great thinkers from the past to make progress in one's own work or field.

Examples:

He acknowledged that he was standing on the shoulders of giants in the field of physics.
As a scientist, she felt privileged to be standing on the shoulders of giants who had paved the way for her research.
The young entrepreneur knew he was standing on the shoulders of giants in the business world.

Show examples from the web [+]

Newton told the group that doing math was like standing on the shoulder of giants to see the future.
We all stand on the shoulders of giants.
If I have seen further than other men, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
And so I'm here standing on the shoulders of many people.
It just shows that Mr. Pettigrew stands on the shoulders of giants!
How are we supposed to stand on the shoulders of giants?
For it's only by standing on the shoulders of the past that we can truly gaze into the future.
We stand on the shoulders of our comrades.
Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.
Even shame that your success was built on the shoulders of a dead man.
But you built your plan on the shoulders of a kid with a dream.
And he just laid her right on the shoulder of the highway.
This mission is riding on the shoulders of many great men and women.
The restrictions weigh a little more each day on the shoulders of farmers.
This responsibility rests on your shoulders; it rests on the shoulders of the Commission and on the shoulders of the Council.
Now, if everyone would please form a line, and place your right hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.
And though I'm loath to admit it, sometimes it falls on the shoulders of those in office... No.
The very fate of our nation may rest on the shoulders of Jonah Hex.
Whatever our children achieve in life, it's because of dreams that started on the shoulders of a proud, strong, Mexican man.

Alternatives:

building on the work of great thinkers
leveraging the discoveries of past scholars
benefiting from the wisdom of predecessors
drawing on the knowledge of earlier generations
following in the footsteps of intellectual giants

This phrase is correct and can be used both literally and metaphorically to refer to the physical shoulders of large people or to imply the support or influence of important figures.

"the shoulders of giants"

This phrase can be used literally to describe the shoulders of large individuals or figuratively to suggest the support or influence of significant people.

Examples:

He could see the tops of the trees from the shoulders of giants in the crowd.
She felt the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders by the encouragement of the giants around her.
The team stood on the shoulders of giants who had laid the foundation for their success.

Show examples from the web [+]

We all stand on the shoulders of giants.
It just shows that Mr. Pettigrew stands on the shoulders of giants!
If I have seen further than other men, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.
How are we supposed to stand on the shoulders of giants?
Newton told the group that doing math was like standing on the shoulder of giants to see the future.
I coincidentally also like Parker, and coincidentally, I also want to be a huge, successful career woman with giant shoulder pads.
We stand on the shoulders of our comrades.
Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.
Even shame that your success was built on the shoulders of a dead man.
I can soften the shoulders of a Jizo statue.
But you built your plan on the shoulders of a kid with a dream.
And he just laid her right on the shoulder of the highway.
This mission is riding on the shoulders of many great men and women.
The first was found wandering the shoulder of I-91 near Northampton.
Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.
We start to offload our own responsibilities onto the shoulders of the European institutions.
The shoulders of the dummy shall be set fully rearward.
The restrictions weigh a little more each day on the shoulders of farmers.
This responsibility rests on your shoulders; it rests on the shoulders of the Commission and on the shoulders of the Council.
State trooper says a car was towed from the shoulder of the road just down the hill.

Alternatives:

the support of influential figures
the influence of great minds
the guidance of important mentors
the backing of key individuals
the impact of significant predecessors

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standing on the shoulders of giants vs the shoulders of giants