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Synonyms

big wheel

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. an influential or important person.

    a big wheel in business.


big wheel British  

noun

  1. another name for a Ferris wheel

  2. informal an important person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

big wheel Idioms  
  1. see under big cheese.


Etymology

Origin of big wheel

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.

The leading men of the show traded their donkey and horse for a paletero cart and a big wheel bike with a horse skull attached.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2024

Visitors also enjoyed fairground rides, a big wheel, and live music from DJs performing in Molly's Bar on the festival site.

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2022

Name a funny guy who hasn’t taken his big wheel for a spin around the children’s shelf and I’ll show you … Conan O’Brien.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2022

Paramedics loaded the injured hiker into a big wheel stretcher and safely got him down the rest of the trail.

From Washington Times • Feb. 7, 2021

He had a sack of bread dangling from his right hand and a big wheel of cheese under his left arm.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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