big

big [ bıg ] adjective ***

1. ) large in size:

a beautiful woman with big eyes

He kept all his secret papers in a big box.

great big (=very big): At the end of the lane was a great big house.

a ) a big person is tall and heavy, and often fat:

A big man stood in the doorway.

b ) if you call a child a big boy or a big girl, you mean they are getting older and will soon be an adult:

Come on, you're a big girl now (=old enough to behave like an adult).

c ) your big sister or big brother is older than you are:

This is my big brother, Jake.

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2. ) large in degree or having a strong effect:

The company faces big problems.

The concerts have been a big success.

a ) very enthusiastic or serious about something:

They were big fans of the Beatles.

b ) not usually before noun INFORMAL popular with many people:

a type of music that is big in America

c ) a big smile/kiss/hug etc. a big smile or kiss is done with enthusiasm and has a strong effect

3. ) important or major:

We have another big game next week.

I had never been involved in making the big decisions before.

Big changes are likely to be made.

a ) powerful or successful in a particular area of activity:

The place was full of big businessmen.

big in: Her mother is big in daytime television.

the big two/three/four etc. (=the two/three/four etc. most important people or organizations): Other stores struggle to compete with the big four retailers.

b ) big or Big MAINLY JOURNALISM used for referring to large and powerful industries that are considered to have a lot of political influence:

Big Tobacco (=the major cigarette companies)

an important victory for Big Oil

be big of someone (to do something) SPOKEN

used for saying that someone has been kind or generous, especially when you do not really think that they have:

It was big of him to help out like that.

be big on something SPOKEN

to be very interested in something, or enjoy something a lot:

I'm not very big on musicals.

have big ideas/plans

to intend to do very exciting or difficult things in the future

make a big thing (out) of something INFORMAL

to treat something as if it is more important than it really is:

Don't make such a big thing out of it. It's only a few days late.

make it big

to become successful:

It was her dream to make it big as a singer.

too big for your britches AMERICAN INFORMAL

with too high an opinion of yourself

what's the big idea? SPOKEN

used for asking someone why they have done something that you think is wrong or annoying:

What's the big idea, telling her about the accident?