Idioms with big:
To be an important / successful person
To be a big deal
To be an important / famous person, especially in a specific location / area of work.
- I hear sheβs a big deal in Biochemical engineering nowadays.
- Thatβs her! Sheβs a big deal in local politics.
To be the big cheese
Very informal. To be an important / influential person, especially in an area of work / company. βThe big cheeseβ is often used to talk about the boss or manager.
- Heβs the big cheese at Google.
- Sheβs the big cheese of the HR department.
To be a big shot
An important, successful or influential person. However, βbig shotβ can have negative connotations and is often used sarcastically.
- I havenβt seen you in a while. I heard you became a big shot in the city. Iβm surprised you still have time for us.
- Alright big shot, donβt spend all your millions all in one go.
To be a big fish in a small pond
Someone who is very successful but only in a very limited area, and only because there isnβt much competition.
- She likes being a big fish in a small pond because then she knows sheβll do well.
- If he went to London he wouldnβt think quite so highly of himself. Here heβs a big fish in a small pond.
To become successful
To make the big time
To become successful in something you do β often earning a lot of money.
- When he made the big time he took everyone to the most expensive restaurant in town to celebrate.
- Most people donβt make the big time until theyβve been working for at least 20 years.
To make it big
To become successful in something you do β often earning a lot of money.
- She made it big on Broadway back in 2007 and has never looked back.
- His dream is to make it big so that he can pay off his mortgage and live debt-free.
Play in the big leagues
Comes from sport β to play at the highest level. To be involved in something important or of big proportions. Often used in business when someone is promoted or starts doing work that has a bigger impact.
- Sheβs been promoted to regional manager. Sheβs playing in the big leagues now!
- You have to work much harder than that if you want to play in the big leagues.
Big break
An opportunity or turn of events that leads to success. A big break is often used for people involved in the arts (artists, actors etc.), to talk about one specific opportunity that led to their work being recognised and to them being successful.
- She had her big break in 2009 and the phone hasnβt stopped ringing since!
- Her big break was something she never expected β an independent film with a small budget.
Positive idioms with big
Think big
To be ambitious.
- You have to think big to achieve great things.
- Thinking big is the key to accomplishing your biggest goals.
- She thinks big. Sheβll go far.
To be big hearted
Adjective used to describe an aspect of a personβs personality. If someone is big hearted they are kind, caring and compassionate.
- My mumβs too big hearted for her own good. Sheβs always helping people β even if she canβt really afford to!
- Iβve never met someone quite as big hearted as you. Youβre really special.
Negative idioms with big
To have bigger fish to fry
To be worried about more important or more urgent problems.
- I know youβve misbehaved but I canβt deal with you right now. Thereβs a burst water pipe in the kitchen and I canβt find your brother. Iβve got bigger fish to fry.
- She didnβt worry about the bad press her campaign was getting, after all, she had bigger fish to fry.
Be big of (someone)
If an action is big of someone, itβs good, kind or helpful. However, this idiom is usually used sarcastically when the person using it thinks that the other person could do a lot more.
- It was really big of you to spare a whole minute for me yesterday.
- You havenβt even called her yet to see how sheβs doing? Thatβs big of you.
To be big headed
To be conceited or arrogant. Used as an adjective to describe a personβs personality.
- Heβs so big headed. All he talks about is himself.
- Sheβs not big headed, but she often comes across that way to new people she meets.
To give someone a big head
To praise someone so much that they start thinking very highly of themselves.
- Donβt tell him heβs good-looking. Youβll give him a big head.
- Youβll give her a big head with all those compliments! She wonβt even be able to fit through the door by the time youβre done!
Getting too big for your boots
Behaving as if you are more important than you actually are. Acting like youβre better than other people. Having a very high opinion of yourself. Used negatively.
- Have you seen Sarah lately? Since she got promoted sheβs been getting far too big for her boots.
- Alright, stop it. Youβre getting far too big for your boots and Iβve had enough!
To be a big mouth
Adjective used to describe an aspect of a personβs personality. It means they tell people things they shouldnβt, for example secrets.
- Donβt tell Josh about your promotion. You know heβs a big mouth and everyone will know by lunch time.
- Donβt be such a big mouth! Canβt you keep a secret for once in your life?
Other idioms with big
To see the big picture
To focus on the most important parts of a situation, rather than the smaller details.
- In my line of work I really need to focus on the big picture or it wonβt all fit together at the end.
- Is anyone seeing the big picture around here? If we donβt start focussing now weβll never get this project delivered on time!
To be big on (something)
To be interested in something, to enjoy something a lot or to think something is particularly important.
- Make sure you say please and thank you and call her Mrs Jones. Sheβs big on politeness.
- Heβs not big on hugs so donβt be surprised if all he does is shake your hand.
A big ask
Informal. To ask someone to do something for you or for a favour that is difficult, time consuming or inconvenient for the person youβre asking. βA big askβ can also be used sarcastically, if the person thinks they have asked for something easy but that hasnβt been done.
- I know itβs a big ask, but is there any chance you could pick Charlie up from school for me today?
- Is it really a big ask for us to have lunch together once every couple of months?
To make a big deal (of something)
To exaggerate a situation, put a lot of focus on something or someone or build up the importance of something.
- Please donβt make a big deal out of this, but I forgot to buy milk at the shops.
- Letβs all try to make a big deal of her today, sheβs worked really hard and she really deserves it.
Big time
Informal. A lot or to a great extent. Used to emphasise an action.
- You owe me big time for that favour I did you last week.
- He needs to apologise big time for what heβs done to me.