swallowing a boat whole
Rare literary expression for something so large it could swallow a boat whole; often used metaphorically for a person of immense capacity or ambition. Found in classical Chinese-influenced texts.
The phrase 'a fish that swallows a boat' is used to describe a person of great caliber or ambition.
Alternate kanji spelling using 吞. Equally rare and literary.
From the classical Chinese expression 呑舟之魚, “a fish large enough to swallow a boat”; 呑舟 was subsequently used for the act or capacity of swallowing a boat.