big game

¹ American  

[big geym] / ˈbɪg ˈgeɪm /

noun

1. large wild animals, especially when hunted for sport.

   Expensive vacation packages to hunt big game like leopards or elephants in Africa are marketed almost exclusively to wealthy foreign tourists.

2. large fish, as tuna and marlin, when sought by deep-sea anglers.

   Participants in the sport fishing tournament regularly return to shore with big game exceeding 200 pounds.

3. a major objective, especially one that involves risk.

   The merger shows their commitment to the big game, in a market where half measures just won’t pay off.

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Big Game ² American  

[big geym] / ˈbɪg ˈgeɪm /

noun

Football.

1. Usually the Big Game an alternate name for the Super Bowl, used in advertising by brands that are not official sponsors and therefore do not have permission to use the trademarked name of the NFL championship game.

   The best time to buy a new television is in late January, during sales promotions for the Big Game.

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big game British  

noun

1. large animals that are hunted or fished for sport

2. informal the objective of an important or dangerous undertaking

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Etymology

Origin of big game

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Why wouldn't you want one of your best players to play in a big game like that?

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Bishop Alemany baseball coach Randy Thompson has been known to frustrate Harvard-Westlake, and his son, Brody, had big game on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Once they reel in a big game fish, one of the resort’s chefs will slice it minutes later.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Academic studies show a temporary boost to the share prices of companies in the days after the big game if they ran an ad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

“You know how the high school always has pep rallies for teams with a big game coming up? Helps everybody feel good. Gives them hope, especially when they’re facing someone with a way better record?”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry