The lion’s share

• This everyday expression refers to the fact that the most powerful participant will always take the greatest share.
• The expression comes from one of Aesop's Fables, ‘The Lion, the Fox and the Ass’. Aesop lived between c. 620-560 BCE.

Aesop’s Fable ‘The Lion, the Fox and the Ass’

• A Lion, a Fox and an Ass agree to share the spoils when they go hunting.
• After they have caught a great deal of game, the Ass divides it all up into three equal shares, then asks the others to decide which share they would like.
• The Lion becomes instantly furious and kills the Ass, adding him to the pile. He turns to the Fox and asks him to divide up the catch.
• The Fox places everything in one huge pile, then puts aside a tiny fragment for himself.
• This time the Lion approves.
• The moral of the story is that the greatest part of the spoils of war will go to the strongest participant.