big daddy

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. a man regarded as the paternalistic head of a family.

2. the founder or a leading member of a company, organization, movement, etc..

   the big daddy of soil conservation.

3. the federal government.

   to thank big daddy for the tax cut.

4. Chiefly Southern U.S.,  grandfather.

Word History and Origins

Origin of big daddy¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Idioms and Phrases

An influential man, a big shot (see under big cheese ), as in You'll have to get permission from big daddy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

A male sweetheart or friend, often a man considerably older than his female companion; a sugar daddy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

Grandfather. This usage originated in the South among African-Americans.

The largest or most important person or thing of its kind. For example, The United States has long been the big daddy of the Western Hemisphere , or The blue whale was the big daddy of the ocean . [ Slang ; 1960s]

Example Sentences

After all, since Dutton is the patriarch of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States, he may as well be the entire region’s big daddy.

Read more on Salon

“Republicans can’t win without ‘big daddy’?

Read more on Salon

I don’t even know where to go with that other than therapy, especially since it was accompanied by a banner at the bottom of the screen that read: “Dems look for Big Daddy Energy.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Big Daddy will protect me so that I’ll never be hurt again, like I was hurt by my real daddy.

Read more on Salon

The whole “Big Daddy” concept — deeply rooted in Southern culture — is essentially about longing for a dominant patriarch, a figure of unquestioned authority who brings order, control and tradition.

Read more on Salon