big daddy

American  

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.

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big daddy Idioms  

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

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

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

4. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of big daddy

First recorded in 1950–55

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.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2022

They set their sights on the big daddy: They wanted to compete with Popeyes, on both quality and price, which is sort of like the corner bookstore saying it’s going to take on Amazon.

From Washington Post • Jul. 5, 2022

“I’ve talked to Dr. Steven Rauch, the big daddy of them all, at Mass General Eye and Ear. Tried chiropractic, acupuncture, low-salt, all-organic, no caffeine, no chocolate, essential oils, all the holistic stuff,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2020

And while the airport has its own mall—featuring local-goods store Uptown Minnesota—the big daddy of shopping, Mall of America, is less than 20 minutes away by light rail.

From Time • Aug. 21, 2015

The mayor sits up there showing people he’s big daddy and in control.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson