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Synonyms

big gun

American  

noun

Slang.
  1. an influential or important person or thing.

    He's a big gun in science.


big gun British  

noun

  1. informal an important or influential 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

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.

“I’m not a big gun guy,” says Carlson, whose weapons include pistols, a shotgun, an AR-15 rifle, 10 loaded magazines and about 1,000 additional rounds.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2022

If this appeal to latinidad still doesn’t work, Caruso brings out the big gun for his Spanish-language commercial on crime: a guy who sounds just like the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2022

I fired a 155 howitzer, this big gun on wheels.

From The Guardian • Jul. 18, 2020

“I’m a big gun guy, and I’m all for background checks,” he said.

From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2019

I practically jumped out of my skin when I realized that he had a great big gun strapped to his hip.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

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