10 Common “Big” Idioms You’ll Hear in Everyday English [575]

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In this episode, you’ll learn common English idioms with the word “big” and how they are used in real conversations.

Many learners understand the word big, but its meaning changes completely in expressions like a big ask, the big cheese, or make it big. Without context, these phrases can be confusing.

In this lesson, I explain what each expression means, when to use it, and how it sounds in natural English. 

By the end of this episode, you will be able to:

• understand common idioms with “big”
 • use them correctly in everyday conversation
 • avoid sounding literal or unnatural
 • feel more confident when native speakers use these expressions

If you want to understand natural English better and speak with more confidence, this episode will help.

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Transcript

0:09

Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language. And the Advanced English Lesson is looking at idioms using the word big. So an advanced English lesson, idioms with the word big. I've got 10 of them. I'll go through them with you. I'll explain them and I'll give you an example. So number one, to be big on something. When we are big on something, we usually like it a lot. So for example, ah, I'm not very big on jazz music or I'm not very big on classical music means I'm really not into it. I don't really like it so much. I like something a little bit more traditional or a little bit more pop or whatever it might be. I'm not big on exercise in the gym. I like to do something at home on my own in my comfort of my own room. I don't like to be looking at all these gym bunnies walking around looking at themselves in the mirror. Okay, I just like to work out in the comfort of my own home. I'm not big on something. Number two, the big cheese or the big fish. Well, this is something we use slightly derogatory when we're talking about somebody. Ah, he thinks he's the big cheese around here. He thinks he's the big fish. It means he thinks he's the most important or more important than everybody else. Or indeed, if somebody asks you, who's that guy over there? Oh, he's the big cheese. He's the boss. He's the CEO. You need to be very careful when you are around him. So the big cheese or the big fish, somebody who feels he isn't more important than everybody else, or somebody who actually is more important than anybody else. Number three, a big ask. When something is a big ask, it's a bit of a stretch to be able to fulfill it or be able to do something for somebody. So perhaps your friend says, look, I really, really need a favor. My car is broken down and I need a car for a few days. I have to go away on business. Could I borrow your car? Oh, wow, that's a big ask. I mean, I need to take the kids to school in the mornings. Look, I'll tell you, I'll check it out and see if my wife can take them in her car. And if she's able to take them, yeah, I'll lend you the car and you can give it back to me on Thursday or Friday. But something that's a big ask is something that's just a little bit of a stretch, a little bit too much. You can do lots of things for somebody, but some things could be a big ask. Could you lend me a thousand Euro for a couple of months? That's a big ask. I'm absolutely smashed. I'm broke. I mean, Christmas was such a heavy time for me. And, you know, here we are. There's always something coming up. Let me check it out and I'll come back to you and let you know. So it's a really big ask. Or somebody might say, look, I know it's a big ask, but I wouldn't ask you unless I was really, really stuck. I was really serious. I'm hoping you'd be able to help me out. A big ask. Number four, the big time. Sometimes we say, oh, he's hit the big time. Means he's got a really important job now. He's really made it. Or, you know, he was just languishing down in the lower leagues of the tennis. And now he's had a couple of serious wins. And everybody's talking about him as a future champion. So he's really in the big time. He's been signed up by one of the top sports outfits. So he's got a sponsorship deal already. It won't be too long before he's getting other sponsorship contracts. So he's really hit the big time. So you always know when you've hit the big time when people start coming to you and making up to you and hoping you'll be able to help them with this or asking you for this favor and that favor. It's an obvious sign that you've made the big time. Okay, so to make the big time is to be successful, to achieve something, to be recognized by other people that you are there near the top of whatever your profession is or your organization, your sport, whatever it might be. Yep, he's really hit the big time. I'm delighted for him. It's really, really good news. The big time. And for those of you and your friends or family who want one-to-one lessons, well, you know what to do. Just get in touch, www.englishlessonviaskype.com and you can apply for a free trial lesson and we'll be very happy to hear from you and very happy to help you. Number five, big-headed. Well, when we describe somebody as being big-headed, it usually means that they've got an inflated opinion about themselves. So the more you tell them how good they are, the bigger the head gets. Oh, he's very big-headed. I know he's good. I know he's talented, but he's always telling people. He's always showing off. He's always there demonstrating how good he is. He's really, really big-headed. You know, I think he needs to just take it back a little bit. Yeah? Okay, so to be big-headed means to know how good you are, but also to show off and demonstrate to others so they really, really can't forget how good you are. Something, somebody really big-headed. Number six, a big mouth. Well, somebody with a big mouth is somebody who doesn't know how to be quiet, somebody who's constantly talking, and particularly they tell secrets or stories about people to other people. So, you know, you might tell your friend or somebody you know a particular secret. It's not a state secret, but it's important to you and you don't want everybody to know about it. And you say, look, just keep this to yourself. And of course, then you hear that they've already told somebody else and you say, oh, you, you big mouth. You couldn't wait. I mean, why did you tell them? I asked you not to. So somebody who we describe as a big mouth is somebody that cannot keep it zipped, cannot keep it closed, cannot wait to divulge information that you've given them to somebody else. So he's a big mouth. Don't tell him he's a big mouth. If you want something told to all of those people, you want to get the message around, just tell David because he's a big mouth. He'll tell everybody. So you won't have to send any emails or WhatsApp messages. Everybody will hear very, very quickly. A big mouth. Number seven, to be too big for your boots. Well, when somebody is too big for the boots, literally it means they've outgrown their shoes and they need a new pair. But when we talk about it in a metaphorical way, in this idiomatic way, too big for your boots means you've got a little bit big-headed, you've got a little bit ahead of yourself and you feel you're better than everybody else. So somebody might describe him, ah him, he's really too big for his boots. He's a bossy guy. He tells everybody how good he's been, how successful he has been. You know, it's really sickening. He's a little bit too big for his boots. Someday somebody is going to bring him down a peg or two and that's going to land him in some difficulty. So when somebody is too big for their boots, they are constantly telling other people how good they are. They are constantly showing off and demonstrating perhaps their wealth, perhaps how far they've got in an organization, how good their exam results have been. They're just too big for their boots. They have forgotten where they come from. They have forgotten their roots. And they really, really need to remember exactly who they were, where they came from, and that they're just the same as everybody else. So to be too big for your boots. Number eight, no big deal. When we use this expression, no big deal, we really mean it. It's not a problem. It's not difficult. Can you help me? I was looking for a lend of some money. Do you mind? No, it's no big deal. I can give you a couple of hundred Euro till the end of the month if that will help. Do you need a bit more? No, no, that's fine. Thanks. Ah, no big deal. Would you mind dropping me off to the railway station on your way home? It's not taking you out of your way, is it? No, no problem, no big deal. I can go that way. I can go the other way. It's much of a muchness, whichever way I go, I'll get there in no time at all. So what time do you want to leave? So you help the person, you give them a lift to the railway station or you drop them to the airport or you do something that isn't taking you out of your way, but it's nice to be nice to other people. It's nice to help people and you can just generally say, you know, it's no big deal. Are you sure? Yeah, it's no big deal. Whatever you want. Yeah. Somebody comes into your office and asks, can they borrow your car for lunchtime? Can they use your laptop? Can you send them this file? Yeah, it's not a problem. It's no big deal. Whatever you want, just ask. Okay, so somebody who's generous, kind with their time and is quite happy to help. No big deal. Number nine, to make it big. Well, when we make it big, it means we have succeeded. We've finally got where we wanted to get. Yeah, he's really made it big. Yeah, he's on the stage now. He's actually on the London stage and he started off in the small little provincial theatres. But wow, he's really talented. And somebody spotted him, invited him for an audition. Now he's in his second, I think it's his second big play in the London theatres. So I think the world is his oyster now. He's really made it big. So if he keeps going this way, we're going to be hearing about him for many years to come to make it big. And then finally, big stick. Well, big stick is often used in terms of diplomacy where, you know, they would recommend and advise people who can be polite and kind, but always carry a big stick. So if other countries or governments don't accept your approach when you're being kind and generous and nice, then you have the big stick where you threaten in other ways, economic threat or political threat or some other way of threatening the way that you conduct business with them. So it's the big stick approach that if you don't do it the diplomatic way, then we always have the big stick which we can beat you with. There is an expression, the carrot and the stick, and it's very similar where you use the carrot to encourage somebody, but you always have the stick ready to hit somebody. So they talk about the way to get a donkey to move is to have a carrot in front of the donkey because he wants to eat, but you also have the stick to give it a quick hit or clip on the back side to get it moving. So the carrot and stick, so the big stick is a very similar concept. Okay, so these are 10 idiomatic expressions using the word big. Let me go through them with you one more time quickly. To be big on something or not to be big on something. To be the big cheese or the big fish in the organization. And something is a big ask. It's a big, big request, a big ask. The big time, to make the big time. To be big-headed, yeah? So to be always boasting, to be big-headed. To have a big mouth, not knowing when to shut up and telling your secrets to everybody. To be too big for your boots, to be a little bit condescending and a little bit boastful, to be too big for your boots. When something is no big deal, well, then, yeah, it doesn't really matter. You're quite happy to do it. To make it big, yeah, to make it big, to be successful, to have got there eventually, yeah. And then the big stick, the big stick approach, I think it was Roosevelt in the American politics who recommended the idea of to be nice and polite to people, but always carry, always remind them that you have the big stick just in case you need it. Okay, here we've given you those idioms with big. Practice them and try to use them. You won't remember them all, but you know the drill by now. Practice makes perfect. So the more you practice, the better you will get. And if you need to contact me, well, then you can do so on www.englishlessonadviaskype.com. Very happy to hear from you. Very happy to help you. And thanks for listening. Thanks for watching. And remember, join me for the next lesson.