big game

¹ American  

[big geym] / ˈbɪg ˈgeɪm /

noun

1. large wild animals, especially when hunted for sport.

   Expensive vacation packages to hunt big game like leopards or elephants in Africa are marketed almost exclusively to wealthy foreign tourists.

2. large fish, as tuna and marlin, when sought by deep-sea anglers.

   Participants in the sport fishing tournament regularly return to shore with big game exceeding 200 pounds.

3. a major objective, especially one that involves risk.

   The merger shows their commitment to the big game, in a market where half measures just won’t pay off.

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Big Game ² American  

[big geym] / ˈbɪg ˈgeɪm /

noun

Football.

1. Usually the Big Game an alternate name for the Super Bowl, used in advertising by brands that are not official sponsors and therefore do not have permission to use the trademarked name of the NFL championship game.

   The best time to buy a new television is in late January, during sales promotions for the Big Game.

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big game British  

noun

1. large animals that are hunted or fished for sport

2. informal the objective of an important or dangerous undertaking

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Etymology

Origin of big game

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Following an off season for the typically dominant Kansas City Chiefs, Allen’s path to the big game looked clearer than ever.

From Salon

As danger spread on the other side of the world, Fed officials placed imaginary bets and joked about who would win the big game.

From MarketWatch

“We knew this was a big game and I had to be there for my team,” Wright said after scoring 18 points in the last two quarters.

From Los Angeles Times

"First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday and then he comes back to us," said Slot.

From BBC

That came in 2011, when Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to victory over Pittsburgh, but he and the Steelers have yet to get back to the big game.

From BBC