big shot
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of big shot
First recorded in 1905–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Later in the chat, a Binance VIP client manager said: “Karry the big shot, haha. Boss Rock has mentioned you before.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
On “Father Figure,” Swift sings about a big shot taking a “protégé” under their wing—and demanding total loyalty in return.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025
"Not a big shot or having high thoughts of himself. He was back in training and being the same kid."
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025
Ali Monfared, the 36-year-old head coach for Canyon, said, “It was the wildest game I’ve ever seen or been involved in. There was big shot after big shot after big shot.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2025
“You think you’re a big shot, don’t you?”
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
