big gun

American  

noun

Slang.

1. an influential or important person or thing.

   He's a big gun in science.

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big gun British  

noun

1. informal an important or influential person

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Example Sentences

In the first decade of the 20th century, two brilliant English civilians, Arthur Pollen and Harold Isherwood, invented the world’s first modern gunnery computer to aim the big guns of battleships.

From The Wall Street Journal

Arsenal needed their big guns to come off the bench to secure a win over a battling Mansfield Town side in the FA Cup fifth round, but it was two 16-year-olds who made history.

From BBC

“If the government decides to use big guns and bring back the battleships, I’m not getting involved.”

From The Wall Street Journal

TV presenter Richard Hammond says he had to "bring out the big guns", or his mum, at his car workshop, the focus of his new TV show.

From BBC

I know Ruben Amorim made eight changes but he threw the big guns on in the end and you don't know what sort of impact that loss will have across the club.

From BBC

Related Words

• big-name
• distinguished
• esteemed
• famed
• high-ranking
• illustrious
• noted
• outstanding
• preeminent
• prominent
• renowned
• well-known