逃にげた魚さかなは大おおきい

expression, i-adjective

the one that got away seems the biggest

Proverb meaning that missed opportunities or lost things are often exaggerated in one's mind. Equivalent to the English saying 'the grass is always greener on the other side' or 'the biggest fish is always the one that got away'.

See also: 逃がした魚は大きい

• あの時とき買かわなかった株かぶが今いますごく上あがってる。逃にげた魚さかなは大おおきいって本ほん当とうだね。

  The stock I didn't buy back then has gone up so much now. It's true that the one that got away seems the biggest.

• 別わかれた彼かの女じょがやけに良よく見みえるのは、逃にげた魚さかなは大おおきいってやつかな。

  I guess it's a case of 'the one that got away seems the biggest' that my ex-girlfriend looks so good to me now.