big league

¹ American  

[big leeg] / ˈbɪg ˈlig /

noun

1. Sports. a major league, as in baseball.

   His debut in the big leagues was as a relief pitcher for the Dodgers in the final game of the regular season.

2. Informal. the area of greatest competition, highest achievement or rewards, etc..

   He's a local politician who isn't ready for the big league.

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big-league ² American  

[big-leeg] / ˈbɪgˈlig /

adjective

1. Sports. of or belonging to a major league.

   a big-league pitcher.

2. Informal. among the largest, foremost, etc., of its kind.

   the big-league steel companies.

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big league Idioms  

1. An area of tough competition and high rewards; the largest or foremost of its kind. For example, Winning an Oscar put this unknown actress in the big league. The term alludes to the major (big) leagues of American baseball. [Late 1800s] Also see big time, def. 2.

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Other Word Forms

• big leaguer noun
• big-leaguer noun

Etymology

Origin of big league¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Origin of big-league²

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; adjective use of big league

Example Sentences

For the seven seasons Díaz played for the New York Mets, it was the coolest entrance song in the big leagues, creating the most intimidating scene in any ballpark anywhere.

From Los Angeles Times

She was referring to the practice of looking for stocks that have gotten too big for the S&P indexes focused on small- and midcap companies and migrating them to the big leagues.

From MarketWatch

The left-handed starter was 27 and in the midst of his best season of seven in the big leagues when he died.

From Los Angeles Times

“Running the minor league pitching sounds more intriguing to me than being a bullpen coach in the big leagues,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

He was headed for the big leagues as a college player, when he suffered a brain injury on the field.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• big time
• majors