big one
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of big one
First recorded in 1955–60
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.
Considering the 2020 S&P 500 drop of around 34% at the start of the coronavirus pandemic as the last big one, that could make the next crash due within a few years.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
Kyren Wilson ended his wait for the big one two years ago - could it be Mark Allen's turn now?
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
Climate change is the big one, but it could also help with things like large-scale desalination, which has long been technically viable but has high energy demands.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
The catch, and it’s a big one, is that the show is entirely written by artificial intelligence.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
“I ain’t playing,” I say, trying to pull loose from the big one with the droopy pants.
From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake
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.
