worm's eye view

worm's eye view

A limited understanding of something due to a lack of a broad perspective. It is the opposite of the more common phrase "bird's eye view." Because he was stuck in the same menial position for so long, he only had a worm's eye view of how the business operated.
See also: eye, view
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a worm's eye view

1. If you have a a worm's eye view of something, you see it from a low position. If only gardeners would take a worm's eye view of their lawns, they would discover a mass of fascinating and useful information.
2. If someone has a worm's eye view of a situation, they are able to form an impression of it from an unimportant or junior position. Let me offer a worm's eye view of what Thatcherism was, and what its legacy may be. Compare with a bird's-eye view.
See also: eye, view
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a worm's-eye view

the view looking up at something from ground level.
This expression was formed on the pattern of bird's-eye view (see bird). It usually refers to the viewpoint of a humble or insignificant person who is witnessing important events or people.
See also: view
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a worm’s-eye ˈview

the opinion of somebody who is closely involved in something: I’m afraid I can’t give you a general overview of the situation. I can only offer you a worm’s-eye view that is based on my own experience.
See also: view
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a worm's eye view
  • a worm's-eye view
  • bird's eye view
  • bird's-eye view
  • a bird's eye view
  • a bird's-eye view
  • eye-view
  • bird's-eye view, a
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • view
References in periodicals archive
Sir Alex Ferguson with jockey Ruby Walsh What A Friend ridden by Ruby Walsh (main image) on the way to victory in the totesport Bowl Chase yesterday, (inset) a 'worm's eye view' on the Aintree action on Liverpool Day
Ferguson finds a friend with Liverpool win; Ferguson finds a friend with victory in Liverpool
A few of these ("A Worm's Eye View of the High and Mighty," "What is a Bidet?," "Lady Astor") have already appeared in American Diplomacy.
Waves of Hope: The U.S. Navy's response to the Tsunami in Northern Indonesia
"Having had a worm's eye view in my life of prison and also having had something of a bird's eye view of government, I think that maybe I will bring some things to this group of experts - which is a team of which I am only one member."
Aitken's chance to wield his 'sword of truth' in prisons role
He combines a worm's eye view of the war, through the eyes of small, but key, players on the ground (and in the air), with an account of the high strategy of the campaign, as seen through the eyes of the main generals and admirals.
Together We Stand: America, Britain, and the Forging of an Alliance
At any rate, Cate's mostly worm's eye view of Nietzsche's life works well, tracing the self-styled Dionysus-Zarathustra-Crucified One's every step (he was a passionate hiker, preferring dark, shady pine forests), recording his every sigh ("During the past year I had 118 serious nervous-attack days.
Poor Fritz!
Last season he had a worm's eye view from the bench as Celtic went all the way to Seville via Blackburn, Vigo, Liverpool, Stuttgart and Oporto.
Football: NIGHT A BHOY BECAME MAN; Hero keeper Marshall writes his name into Celtic folklore
A Worm's Eye View By: Caren Trafford Etram RRP: $17.95
Ideas in print
Is a worm's eye view better than a bird's eye view?
SAD STEVE A MAN IN TORMENT; What a worrying week it's been for Britain's saddest bloke. STEVE RICHES has been staring out of Canary Wharf Tower thinking about questions for which there aren't any answers - and coming up with a whole lot more. Can you help him out, or think of any of your own? You could win pounds 25
It is, in effect, a bird's eye view rather than a worm's eye view. Just as microeconomic concepts and modes of analysis are the essence of the economist's involvement in regulatory policy, macroeconomic concepts -- such as consumption, saving, investment, productivity, and money supply -- are basic in dealing with questions of monetary and fiscal policies.
Is Macroeconomics Dead?
His well crafted chronicle, enlightening and reflective, is a valuable addition to colonial memoirs on three counts: it portrays the worm's eye view of an observant and critical junior officer without the changes of attitude which long service and promotion tend to bring; it describes with telling authenticity the `holy' North in the period immediately prior to post-war political, economic and communications developments; and it provides a rare subaltern's account of the WAFF in action in East Africa.
Time and the Hour: Nigeria, East Africa and the second world war
Chapters also deal with the war photographers; women war correspondents; "The Worm's Eye View of the War," featuring Ernie Pyle and cartoonist Bill Maudlin; "The African American Press in Wartime;" "The Mavericks," with the likes of Ernest Hemingway; broadcasting's Edward R.
Reporting the War: The Journalistic Coverage of World War II
Among the specific topics: "A Worm's Eye View of Urban Soil" by Phil Craul of Syracuse University; "Tree Roots and Sidewalk Conflicts" by Phil Barker of the U.S.
Making our cities safe for trees
They pointed out the varying camera angles during Duterte's more-than-an-hour speech, which included worm's eye view shots.
Duterte's first Sona draws cheers, jeers from netizens
One of the most memorable images tonight is Chris getting a worm's eye view of Britain as he looks up through the grass over his head and into the wide open mouth of a hungry starling.
We love telly; PICK OF THE DAY
Unfortunate perhaps that the writer stated Jonathan had a worm's eye view of the prison system - would bird's eye view have not been more suitable?
Letter: Prison appointment