magnitude; one not easy to perform. [From a presumed difficulty in cracking large nuts.]
Big One or Big 'Un, subs. (old).—A man of note or importance. The current colloquialism is big-wig, but at one time big-one was the more frequently-used expression. For synonyms, see Great gun.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, p. 42. Then up rose Ward, the veteran Joe, And, 'twixt his whiffs, suggested briefly That but a few at first should go, And those, the light-weight Gemmen chiefly; As if too many big ones went, They might alarm the Continent!
Big People, subs. (familiar).—Persons of standing or consequence. Cf., Great gun.
1858. Anthony Trollope, Dr. Thorne, I., p. 43. He would n no way assume a familiarity with bigger men than himself; allowing to the bigger men the privilege of making the first advances. Ibid, p. 81. When one is absolutely in the dirt at their feet, perhaps these big people won't wish one to stoop any further.
Big Pond, subs. (popular).—The Atlantic. Also called the big drink (q.v).
1838. Haliburton ('Sam Slick'), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. He [old Clay] is all sorts of a hoss, and the best live one that ever cut dirt this side of the big pond, or t'other side either.
1883. Sala, Living London, p. 204. Next time Miss Ward crosses the big pond, I earnestly hope that she will cross the 'Rockies,' and triumphantly descend the Pacific slope.
Big Pot, subs. (familiar).—A person of consequence. For synonyms, see Great gun.
1880. Punch's Almanac, The Cad's Calendar. Lor! if I'd the ochre, make no doubt, I could cut no end of big pots out. Call me cad? When money's in the game, Cad and swell are pooty much the same.
Big-Side, subs. (Rugby School).—The combination of all the bigger fellows in the school in one and the same game or run; also the ground specially used for the game so denominated. Used also at other public schools.
Big-Side Run, subs. (Rugby School).—A paper chase, in which picked representatives of all houses take part, as opposed to a house run.
Big Take, subs. (American).—That which takes the public fancy; a great success, etc.,—in short, anything that 'catches on.'—See Take.
Big Talk, subs. (popular).—Pompous speech; a pedantic use of long words.
1874. Saturday Review, Feb., p. 280. [With regard to words like 'psithurism,' 'cheirognomy,' 'scintillating eyes,' 'the phaesimbrotous sun'] perhaps they have been grown so accustomed to big talk that, etc.
Big-Wig, subs. (popular).—A person of consequence; one high in authority or rank. [From big + wig, an allusion to the large and ornate headgear of men of importance in former times.] The term is used both contemptuously and humorously. For synonyms, see Great gun.
1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-
