Big Brother is watching you
CulturalDiscover More
The term Big Brother is used to refer to any ruler or government that invades the privacy of its citizens.
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.
“You think Big Brother is watching you on the subway?”
From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2022
“You think Big Brother is watching you on the subways? You’re absolutely right. Smile, you’re on camera,” Ms. Hochul said at a press conference announcing the upgrades.
From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2022
It’s hard to find a way to fit one into your home without feeling like Big Brother is watching you.
From The Verge • Oct. 22, 2021
Great posters remind them that "Big Brother is watching you."
From Time Magazine Archive
This would be better interpreted as a Creole corruption of tontons m'ecoutent, which is colloquial French for "The uncles are listening" and is basically equivalent to the Orwellian phrase "Big Brother is watching you."
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
