big idea
Americannoun
-
any plan or proposal that is grandiose, impractical, and usually unsolicited.
You're always coming around here with your big ideas.
-
purpose; intention; aim.
What's the big idea of shouting at me?
Etymology
Origin of big idea
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25
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.
Fifa's big idea is to set up the best chance of blockbuster ties in the latter stages of the World Cup.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
At a Senate hearing I once attended, one member’s big idea was to write a dress code for all 100,000 public K-12 schools.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025
Considering both comedians have made a career of selling out major market arenas in the past, Iglesias said he’s confident his big idea will pay off.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025
Still, there’s a very provocative big idea hiding under all theatrics: that once fashion enters the museum and falls into hands of a conservator it becomes an object and effectively “dies.”
From New York Times • May 9, 2024
I don’t think about Safer, and I don’t think about Dallas, or the taste test, or my big idea that may or may not work.
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
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.
