big wheel

American  

noun

Informal.

1. an influential or important person.

   a big wheel in business.

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big wheel British  

noun

1. another name for a Ferris wheel

2. informal an important person

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big wheel Idioms  

1. see under big cheese.

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Etymology

Origin of big wheel

First recorded in 1905–10

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

big wheel

In a visual medium such as film or television, the writer is often viewed as an invisible spoke in a very big wheel.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2023

Visitors also enjoyed fairground rides, a big wheel, and live music from DJs performing in Molly's Bar on the festival site.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2022

Name a funny guy who hasn’t taken his big wheel for a spin around the children’s shelf and I’ll show you … Conan O’Brien.

From New York Times ● Mar. 24, 2022

Paramedics loaded the injured hiker into a big wheel stretcher and safely got him down the rest of the trail.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 7, 2021

This was Ezekiel’s wheel, in the middle of the burning air forever—and the little wheel ran by faith, and the big wheel ran by the grace of God.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin

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