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

Unhappily for the FCC, the same force helping to keep the big game on local TV in the short run is undermining it in the long run.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 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

This is a big game for Leeds, who are six points above the relegation zone with 10 games to go, but have still got work to do.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

"No matter how much you say that it's just another game, it is a big game."

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

When I go into a big game I always try to do at least one thing right away.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers