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Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th
big
big [big bigger biggest] adjective, adverb, verb BrE [bɪɡ] NAmE [bɪɡ] see also ↑bigs n. adjective (big·ger, big·gest) LARGE 1. large in size, degree, amount, etc •a big man/house/increase • This shirt isn't big enough. • It's the world's biggest computer company. • (informal)He had this great big grin on his face. •They were earning big money. •The news came as a big blow. OLDER 2. (informal)older •my big brother • You're a big girl now. IMPORTANT 3. only before noun (rather informal)important; serious •a big decision • Tonight is the biggest match of his career. • You are making a big mistake. •She took the stage for her big moment. • (informal)Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people)? AMBITIOUS 4. (informal) (of a plan)needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed •They're full of big ideas. POPULAR 5. (informal)popular with the public; successful •Orange is the big colour this year. •~ in… The band's very big in Japan. ENTHUSIASTIC 6. (informal)enthusiastic about sb/sth •I'm a big fan of hers. DOING STH A LOT 7. doing sth often or to a large degree •a big eater/drinker/spender GENEROUS 8. ~ of sb (usually ironic)kind or generous •He gave me an extra five pounds for two hours' work. I thought ‘That's big of you’. more at sb's eyes are bigger than their stomach at ↑eye n., have bigger/other fish to fry at ↑fish n., make a (big) thing of/about sth at ↑thing, in a big/small way at ↑way n. Word Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin. Thesaurus: big adj. 1. •a big house/company/increase large • • great • • tall • • spacious • • extensive • • huge • • massive • • vast • • enormous • • sizeable • • hefty • • bumper • Opp: little, Opp: small a/an big/large/tall/spacious/huge/massive/vast/enormous building a/an big/large/great/extensive/spacious/huge/massive/vast/enormous/sizeable area a/an big/large/great/huge/massive/vast/enormous/sizeable/hefty increase Big, large or great? Compare •a big man/house/car/boy/dog/smile • (a) large numbers/part/volume/population • great interest/importance/difficulty/pleasure Large is slightly more formal than big and is used more in writing. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying ‘fat’. Great often suggests quality and not just size; it does not usually describe the physical size of objects or people. 2. (informal) •You are making a big mistake. important • • great • • major • • significant • • serious • • momentous • Opp: little a/an big/important/great/major/significant/serious/momentous decision a/an big/important/great/major/significant/serious difference a/an big/important/great/momentous day a big/great/major/significant/serious mistake Synonyms: big / large / great These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns: Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying ‘fat’. Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases: ▪ a large amount of ◇ ▪ a large number of ◇ ▪ a large quantity of ◇ ▪ a great deal of ◇ ▪ in great detail ◇ ▪ a person of great age. Example Bank: •He was a short man with great big glasses. •The whole story is just a big fat lie. •This house is rather big for us. We need something smaller. •This is a fairly big decision to make. •We were hoping the show would be a really big success. •a potentially big drawback •Do you really think we can take on the big boys? •He was a big man— tall and broad-shouldered. •It's a big decision to have to make. •It's the world's biggest computer company. •She took the stage for her big moment. •There's been a big increase in prices. •This house is too big for us now. •This shirt isn't big enough. Idioms: ↑big cheese ▪ ↑big deal! ▪ ↑big enchilada ▪ ↑big fish ▪ ↑big girl's blouse ▪ ↑big picture ▪ ↑big shot ▪ ↑big stick ▪ big three/four ▪ ↑give get a big hand ▪ ↑go over big ▪ ↑have a big mouth ▪ ↑make it big ▪ ↑me and my big mouth ▪ ↑no big deal ▪ too big for your boots Derived Word: ↑bigness Derived: ↑big somebody up adverb in an impressive way •We need to think big. more at hit (it) big at ↑hit v. Word Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin. verb (-gg-) Verb forms: Word Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin.
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