1872. Schele de Vere, Americanisms, p. 392. Persons of great wealth and distinction are irreverently called big bugs, and I-street, in Washington, is thus said to be inhabited by the foreign ambassadors and other big bugs. J. C. Neal makes a nice distinction when he says of a rich man without social importance: 'He is one of your big bugs, with more money than sense.'
1888. Texas Siftings, Sep. 15. Don't appear unduly surprised or flustrated if, on answering the front door bell, you find Mr. Gladstone wiping his feet on the door mat. Invite him to walk in in a cool, collected tone of voice . . . Show him you have entertained big bugs before.
Big Country, subs. (hunting).—The
open country.
Big Dog of the Tanyard, phr.
(American).—A consequential,
pompous individual; one who
will neither allow others a voice
in any matter, or permit dissent
from his own views. The obvious
derivation is from the
customary guarding of tan-yards
by ferocious watch-dogs.
For synonyms, see Great gun.
Big Dog with the Brass Collar,
phr. (American).—The chief in
any undertaking or enterprise; a
leader. A simile evidently derived
from the stable or kennel.
The phrase is sometimes shortened
to big dog. For synonyms,
see Great gun.
1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 42. In some parts of the country, the principal man of a place or in an undertaking is called the big dog with a brass collar, as opposed to the little curs not thought worthy of a collar.
1882. Alan Pinkerton, The Molly Maguires, p. 24. 'Yes,' said Dormer, 'Lawler is the big dog in these parts now; besides he kapes a good tavern, and will see no old-timer, or young one either, for that matther, sufferin' from want while he can relieve him!'
Big Drink, subs. (familiar).—1.
The ocean; more particularly
applied to the Atlantic. Also
called the big pond, herring
pond, the puddle (q.v.).
1882. Miss Braddon, Mount Royal, ch. xiii. 'I was coming across the big drink as fast as a Cunard could bring me.'
2. (Western American.)—When a Western plainsman talks of the big drink, he is always understood to mean the Mississippi river.
To take a big or long drink is to partake of liquor from a large glass. It is very customary when calling for refreshment to state whether a long or short drink is required.
Big figure. To go the big
figure, phr. (common).—A variant
of 'to go the whole hog,'
or 'to go the whole animal.' It
signifies embarking upon an enterprise
of magnitude. The
phrase is mainly current in the
Southern States, and is derived
from a term used in poker.
1868. Pickings from the Picayune, p. 226. When I saw that, I thought I might as well go the big figure, you see, and so I grabbed the bag; but mischief would have it, that just then the policeman grabbed me and took me to the caboose.
Biggest, adj. (American).—A superlative
often used in the sense
of 'the best' or 'the finest.'
1848. Ruxton, Life in Far West, p. 129. The thermal springs are regarded by the trappers as the breathing-places of his Satanic majesty; and considered, moreover, to be the biggest kind of medicine to be found in the mountains.
1888. Washington (Pa.) Review. The Pittsburg Times is as breezy a journal as comes to this office. It is the biggest little paper we are acquainted with.
Biggest Toad in the Puddle, phr.
(American).—One of the many
