• BIG FEELER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an arrogant or haughty person; a person who acts important
• BIG-FEELING
adj. 1887 Amer. dial. – haughty, proud, conceited, putting on airs
• BIG FELLOW
adj. Bk1892 Aust. aboriginal usage – large, a quantity
n. 1920s US criminals’ sl. – the head of an organized crime syndicate or some equivalent figure
• BIG FISH
n. 1836 sl., orig. US – a high-ranking or important person
• BIG FLAKE
n. 20C drug culture sl. – cocaine
• BIG FRACAS
n. World War II Amer. sl. – war
• BIG FRIEND
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a bomber
• BIG FUCK-OFF
adj. Bk2007 sl. – enormous, excessive, impressive
• BIGG
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to build; to build a nest
• BIGGED
adj. 1936 Amer. dial. – pregnant
• BIGGEDY
adj. 1952 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful
• BIGGEN
vb. 1. 1811 Eng. dial. – to recover strength after lying-in
vb. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to grow big, to increase in size
vb. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to give oneself airs
• BIGGENING
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the recovery of a woman after confinement
• BIG GEORGE
n. Bk1975 US sl. – a quarter
• BIGGER
n. 1862 Sc. – a builder
vb. 1. 1860 Eng. dial. – to build
vb. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to increase in size; to grow bigger
• BIGGER AND BETTER
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• BIGGER HALF
n. 1965 Amer. sl. – one’s husband
• BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE
n. 1851 Amer. dial. – an important or self-important person
• BIGGETY
adj. 1933 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful
• BIGGIE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – important
n. 1926 sl., orig. US – a high-ranking or important person
• BIGGIES
n. 1953 Brit. sl., a children’s word or euphemism – defecation
• BIGGIN
n. 1. 1811 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – a building; a house; a cottage; the act of building
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. obs. – an afternoon meal
• BIGGING
n. 1816 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the act of building
• BIGGINS
n. Bk2007 UK sl. – something of no importance
• BIG GIRL’S BLOUSE
n. 1983 Brit. sl. – an ineffectual male, often with suggestion of effeminacy
• BIG GIRL WITH THE TORCH
n. World War II Amer. sl. – the Statue of Liberty
• BIGGIT
adj. 1. 1813 Sc. – built
adj. 2. Bk1911 Sc. – wealthy
• BIGGITY
adj. 1880 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful
• BIGGLE
vb. 1876 Eng. dial. – to blindfold
• BIGGLY
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the game of blindman’s buff
• BIGGOTY
adj. 1943 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful
• BIGGUMS
adj. 20C teen & high school sl. – overweight
• BIG GUN
n. 1834 sl. – a high-ranking or important person
• BIG GUY
n. 1. World War II Amer. sl. – a corpulent man
n. 2. World War II Amer. sl. – an important man
• BIGGY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – drunk
• BIG H
n. 20C drug culture sl. – heroin
• BIG HAIR
n. 1988 sl., orig. US – long hair teased and lacquered into a large bouffant
• BIG HALF-PINT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a nickname for a fat person
• BIG HARRY
n. 20C drug culture sl. – heroin
• BIG HAT
n. 1. 1966 Amer. dial. – a self-important person; one who acts important
n. 2. 1967 Amer. dial. – a law enforcement officer; a policeman; a sheriff
n. 3. 1970 Amer. dial. – a person of Mexican heritage
• BIG-HEAD
n. 1. 1853 US – arrogance, conceit
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. sl. – one having an inflated opinion of himself; a conceited person
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a headache
n. 4. 1966 Amer. dial. – (usually as ‘bighead’) a tadpole
n. 5. 1967 Amer. dial. – (usually as ‘bighead’) a kind of cigar
n. 6. Bk1975 US sl. – (as ‘big head’) a hangover; and of the physical, mental, and psychological reactions to having consumed too much whisky on the previous night
• BIG-HEADED
adj. 1942 sl. – conceited
• BIG-HEARTED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – generous
• BIG HERB
n. c1905 Amer. dial. – an important person; used sarcastically
• BIGHES
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – jewels, ornaments
• BIG HIT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• BIG HOLE
n. 1. 1930 Amer. dial. – in railroading: an emergency stop
n. 2. 1947 Amer. dial. – the lowest gear of a truck or other vehicle
vb. 1930 Amer. dial. – in railroading, logging, and trucking: to stop quickly
• BIG HOLE IT
vb. 1969 Amer. dial. – in trucking: to apply brakes for an emergency stop
• BIG HOLE THE AIR
vb. 1930 Amer. dial. – in railroading, and logging: to stop quickly
• BIGHORNIE
n. Bk1911 Sc. – the devil
• BIG HOUSE
n. 1. 1811 Amer. dial. – the main house on a plantation
n. 2. 1868 Eng. dial. – the workhouse
n. 3. 1903 Amer. dial. – the principal room of a house; the living room
• THE BIG HOUSE
n. 1916 sl., orig. US – prison
• BIGHT
n. 1. 1691 Eng. dial. – a bend, esp. a curve in the animal or human body
n. 2. 1891 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a bay, a creek; a projection in a river
• BIGHTSOME
adj. 1790 Sc. – having an air of ease combined with activity; light, active
• BIG I
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag
• BIG IDEA
n. Bk1975 US sl. – an unwelcome suggestion, proposal, or action
• BIGIFIED
adj. c1960 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, egotistic
• BIG IKE
n. 1902 Amer. dial. – a self-important, conceited or pretentious person
• BIG I, LITTLE YOU
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag
• BIG INJUN
n. 1907 Amer. dial. – a nickname for a coarse, boastful man
• BIGITE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a conceited person
• BIG JEEP
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a large bomber
• BIG JIMMIES
n. 1999 Sc. sl. – prominent buttocks; a large backside
• BIG JOBS
n. 1940s UK sl. – excrement; defecation
• BIG JOHN
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – a recruit from the country
• THE BIG JUMP
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – death
• THE BIG KAHUNA
n. 1980s US sl. – a large or important person or thing
• BIG KNIFE
n. 1750 US Indian usage, obs. – a White man, esp. a Virginian
• BIG LAKE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• THE BIG LAZIES
n. 1898 Amer. dial. – laziness; a strong inclination to idleness
• BIG-LEAGUE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – important
• BIG LICKS
n. 1990s sl. – enthusiasm or energy, as on the dance-floor
• THE BIG LIE
n. 1948 US – a major political misrepresentation or complex of misrepresentations frequently repeated by political leaders in the hope that it will eventually be believed
• BIG LOOP
n. 1940 Amer. dial., Western usage – the lasso of a cattle thief
• BIGLY
adj. 1. 1802 Sc. obs. – pleasant, delightful, commodious
adj. 2. 1942 Amer. dial. – in a haughty manner
• BIG MAMA
n. 1946 Amer. dial. – one’s grandmother
• BIG MAMMA
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s grandmother
• BIG MAN
n. 1. c1885 US colloq. – an important or influential man; one who is in authority
n. 2. 1970 Amer. dial. – a gallon of wine
n. 3. 20C drug culture sl. – a drug supplier
• BIG ME
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a person who likes to brag
• BIG MISS
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a great loss by death, or by the departure of a friend
• BIG MISTER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s husband
• BIG MIX-UP
n. World War II Amer. sl. – war
• BIG MOMENT
n. c1935 US students’ sl. – one’s sweetheart or lover
• BIG MONEY
n. 1888 orig. US – a large amount of money, high wages or salary
• BIG MOTHER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s grandmother
• BIG MOUTH
n. 1. 1889 sl., orig. & chiefly US – a loquacious talker; also implying boastfulness or lack of discretion
n. 2. 1890 sl., orig. & chiefly US – loquacity, talkativeness
• BIG-MOUTHED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – talkative
• BIG MUCKY-MUCK
n. M19 US sl. – a superior or important person, whether actually or through pretension
• BIG MUDDY
n. 1857 US – the Missouri river
• BIG NANA
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s grandmother
• BIG NECK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a nickname for a fat person
• BIGNET
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a bayonet
• BIG-NIECE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the daughter of a nephew or niece
• BIG NIGGER
n. 1942 Amer. sl., derogatory – an important, often self-important person
• BIG NOISE
n. 1. 1906 sl., orig. US – a high-ranking or important person
n. 2. 1956 US sl. – an important, sensational, or highly publicized statement or deed
• BIG-NOTE
vb. 1987 Aust. sl. – to boast; to praise
• BIG-NOTER
n. 1987 Aust. sl. – a braggart; a boastful person
• BIG O.
n. 1. 1930 Amer. dial. – in railroading: the conductor
n. 2. 20C drug culture sl. – opium
• THE BIG O
n. 20C Aust. sl. – orgasm, esp. female orgasm
• BIG OLD TIME
n. M19 US sl. – an uproarious time; a spree
• BIG ON
adj. 1867 orig. & chiefly US – fond of; enthusiastic about; liking
• BIG ONE
n. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – an incredible story; a whopper
n. 2. 1935 US sl. – a thousand dollars or a thousand-dollar bill
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – in cards: the joker
n. 4. Bk1975 US euphemism – a bowel movement
• THE BIG ONE
n. 1956 US sl. – an important entertainment
• BIG ONES
n. Bk1890 sl. – men of consequence
• BIGOT
n. World War II Amer. sl. – highly secret information; a code word
• BIGOTED
adj. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – stupid, self-willed (without reference to any religious intolerance)
adj. 2. 1902 Amer. dial. – conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, haughty
• BIGOTICAL
adj. a1670 obs. – bigoted
• BIGOTTY
adj. 1873 Eng. & Amer. dial. – haughty, conceited, bumptious, overbearing, self-willed
n. 1884 Eng. dial. – pride, conceit, haughtiness
• BIG OX
n. 1943 – in railroading: the conductor
• BIG PA
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s grandfather
• BIG PAPA
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one’s grandfather
• BIG PASTURE
n. 1968 Amer. dial., Western usage – a penitentiary
• BIG PAY
n. 1915 US – high wages or salary
• BIG PIG
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a person who saves in a mean way or is greedy in money matters; a stingy person
• BIG PIPE
n. 1957 US sl. – a baritone saxophone
• BIG PLACE
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a jail or penitentiary
• BIG POND
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• THE BIG POND
n. 1840 US sl. – the Atlantic Ocean
• BIG POOL
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• THE BIG PRETZEL
n. 19C Amer. sl. – Philadelphia
• BIG PUDDLE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• BIG RAG
n. Bk1975 US circus usage – the main tent of a circus; the big top
• BIG READY
n. 1897 Amer. dial. – a thorough state of preparation; a good start
• BIG RED APPLE
n. Bk1975 US sl. – New York City
• BIG RING
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a square dance
• BIG ROAD
n. 1818 Amer. dial. – a public driveway
• BIG ROCK
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a jail or penitentiary
• BIG ROD
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a machine gun
• BIG ROOM
n. a1883 Amer. dial. – the principal room of a house; the living room
• BIG ROW
n. World War II Amer. sl. – war
• BIG RUMPUS
n. World War II Amer. sl. – war
• BIG RUSH
n. 20C drug culture sl. – cocaine
• BIGS
n. 1. 1973 US sl. – a major sports league
n. 2. Bk2007 UK sl. – something of no importance
• BIG SAVAGE
n. 1942 Amer. dial. – in logging: the general superintendent; a foreman
• BIG SCHOOL
n. c1920 US criminals’ & tramps’ usage – a state or federal penitentiary
• BIG SET-TO
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a major engagement
• BIG SHIP
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a large airplane; a bomber
• BIG SHOAT
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – a boar
• BIG SHORTY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a nickname for a fat person
• BIG SHOT
n. 1927 sl., orig. US – a high-ranking or important person
• BIG SHOW
n. 1. World War II Amer. sl. – a major engagement
n. 2. World War II Amer. sl. – war
n. 3. 1966 Amer. dial. – an important or self-important person
• BIGSIE
adj. 1. Bk1911 Sc. – rather large
adj. 2. Bk1911 Sc. – proud, conceited; used contemptuously
• THE BIG SLEEP
n. 1938 sl., orig. US – death
• BIG SMELL
n. Bk1942 Amer. circus sl. – a seal
• BIG SMOKE
n. 1. 1848 Aust. – aboriginal name for a town
n. 2. Bk1904 – London
• BIG-SORTED
adj. 1890 Eng. dial. – proud, stuck-up
• THE BIG SPIT
n. Bk2007 sl. – the act of vomiting
• BIG SQUEEZE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a boss or foreman; an important person; the leader of a gang; the head of any organization
• BIG STAR
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a law enforcement officer, a sheriff
• BIG STICK
n. 1. Spanish-American War era – military power
n. 2. 1904 US – a display of force
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a machine gun
n. 4. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a fireman’s ladder
n. 5. 1966 Amer. dial. – person of authority, as a police officer or foreman; a marshal
n. 6. 1968 Amer. dial. – an important or self-important person
• BIG STICKS
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – in logging: the woods
• BIG STIFF
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – an uncouth person who is self-opinionated
• BIG STINK
n. 1. 1951 US sl. – a loud, sustained complaint, harangue, or angry commotion
n. 2. Bk1975 US sl. – a scandal
• BIG SUCKER-AND-EGG MAN
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a person of wealth who is easily fleeced
• BIG SUGAR
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – the owner of a ranch, a cattleman
• BIG SWINGING DICK
n. Bk2007 sl. – a forceful, powerful person
• BIG-TALK
adj. 1935 Amer. dial. – boastful, blustering
n. Bk1892 Amer. sl. – (as ‘big talk’) boasting
• BIG TEX
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – Texas
• BIG THING
n. US Civil War usage – any potentially notable event or achievement that does not come off as notable
• A BIG THING ON ICE
n. 1890 sl. – a profitable venture; a good thing; something excellent
• BIG TICKET
n. 1. US Civil War usage – an honourable discharge from military service
n. 2. Bk1975 US salesmen’s usage – a sale of an expensive item; a big sale to one customer
• BIG TIDE
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a flood
• BIG-TIME
adj. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – important
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
adv. 20C teen & high school sl. – (usually as ‘big time’) totally, very
n. 1863 Amer. dial. – a convivial party or celebration; a social gathering; an enjoyable time
• BIG-TIME OPERATOR
n. 1. c1940 US sl. – a big shot; an important or influential person
n. 2. c1940 US students’ sl. – a student who is prominent in school and social activities; a student who is a leader in extracurricular activities and is quick to accept current fads of student dress, speech, and belief
• BIG-TIMER
n. Bk1975 US sl. – a professional gambler
• BIG TOP
n. Bk1975 US criminals’ sl., arch. – a bank
• BIG TOTER
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a shotgun
• THE BIG TROUBLE
n. 1930s US tramps’ sl. – the depression of the 1930s
• BIG-TRUCE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – important
• BIG TURKEY
n. Bk1942 Amer. circus sl. – an ostrich
• BIG ‘UNS
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – large trees
• BIG UP
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to confirm in an opinion; to devote one’s self to an opinion, idea, purpose, or person
• BI-GUY
n. 1973 sl. – a bisexual male
• THE BIG WATER
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
n. 2. 1970 Amer. dial. – a flood
• BIG WHEEL
n. 1. 1942 sl., orig. & chiefly US – a high-ranking or important person
n. 2. Bk1975 US sl. – a student who is important in school and social activities
• BIGWIG
n. 1703 sl. – a high-ranking or important person
• BIG WIND
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – boasting
• BIG WOW
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• BIJEN!
int. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – truly! an exclamation of surprise
• BIKE
n. 1. 1785 Sc. – a gathering, an assembly of people
n. 2. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a nest of wild bees, wasps, etc.; a nestful of bees, a swarm
n. 3. 1827 Sc. – a habitation, a building
n. 4. Bk1898 Sc. – a windfall, an unexpected good fortune
n. 5. Bk1911 Sc. – the hook of the crook from which pots hang over a fire in cooking
n. 6. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a motorcycle
n. 7. 1945 sl., orig. Aust., derogatory – a promiscuous woman
n. 8. 1958 US sl. – a motorcycle policeman
vb. 1790 Sc. – to swarm like bees; also, to gather, to assemble, to crowd
• BIKED
adj. 1996 UK taxi drivers’ sl. – deceived, defrauded
• BIKER’S SPEED
n. 20C drug culture sl. – methamphetamines
• BIKING
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a hive, a swarm
• BIKINI STUFFERS
n. Bk1998 sl. – the breasts
• BIKKY
n. E20 – a child’s word for a biscuit
Back to INDEX B
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Updated: February 26, 2023
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