big game see under game¹

big girl's blouse noun (informal)

Someone who behaves in a feeble or effeminate manner

big government noun (chiefly US derog)

A style of government in which there is high taxation and the state takes a prominent role in the provision of public services

big guns plural noun (informal)

The important, powerful persons in an organization, etc

big hair noun

Hair in a bouffant style

bigˈhead noun (informal)

1. A conceited person
2. Conceit (N American)

bigˈheaded adjective

big-heartˈed adjective

Generous

big hitter noun

1. (in cricket, baseball, etc) a player who hits the ball a long way
2. An important, influential, or successful person (informal)

bigˈhorn noun

A large-horned mountain-dwelling sheep (Ovis canadensis) of N America and Siberia

big house noun

1. Prison (US sl)
2. The house of the local landowner, a wealthy citizen, or the like

big iron noun

(comput sl) large, powerful mainframe computers

big money same as big bucks above.

bigˈmouth noun (slang)

A talkative and often boastful or indiscreet person

bigˈmouthed adjective

big name noun (informal)

A celebrity

big noise noun (informal)

An important person

bigˈ-note transitive verb (Aust inf)

To boast about oneself, try to make (oneself) seem important

Big Pharma noun

The major pharmaceutical companies, collectively

big science noun

Scientific and technical research that requires large financial resources

big screen noun

The cinema, as opposed to television

bigˈ-screen adjective

big shot see bigwig below.

big society noun

The political idea that more power and responsibility should be devolved from the state into the hands of local communities

big tent noun

A political group or party that accommodates a broad range of views

big stick noun (informal)

A display of force, as a threat or means of persuasion

big tent noun

A political group or party that accommodates a broad range of views

big-tickˈet adjective (US inf)

Expensive

big time noun (informal)

The top level in any pursuit, esp show business

bigˈ-time adjective

1. At the top level
2. Important

adverb

To a large extent, greatly

big toe see under toe

big top noun

A large circular tent used for circus performances

big tree noun (N American)

The giant redwood

big wheel noun

A Ferris wheel

big White Chief noun

1. See big Daddy above
2. An important person (informal)

bigˈwig or big shot noun (informal)

A powerful person, a person of some importance

be big on (informal)

1. To do a lot of, be strong in (a particular area of work, etc)
2. To be enthusiastic about

big up (slang)

To express approval and respect for

go over big (with) (informal)

To impress greatly

in a big way

1. To a large extent
2. Vigorously, enthusiastically

that's big of him, etc (usu ironic)

That action, etc is generous on his, etc part

the Big Apple

(also the Apple) (informal) New York City

the Big C (informal)

Cancer

the Big Smoke see under smoke

too big for one's boots or breeches

Conceited, self-important

what's the big idea?

What on earth is going on?

game¹ /gām/

noun

1. A sport of any kind
2. (in pl) (an event consisting of competitions in) athletic sports
3. A contest for recreation
4. A competitive amusement played according to a system of rules
5. The state of a game
6. Manner of playing a game
7. Form in playing
8. The requisite number of points to be gained to win a game
9. A bout or contest in a series
10. A spell or set period of playing a game
11. A bit of fun, a jest
12. Any object of pursuit
13. A scheme or method of seeking an end, or the policy that would be most likely to attain it
14. Business, activity, operation
15. Fighting spirit (archaic)
16. Gallantry (Shakespeare)
17. (usu with the) prostitution (slang)
18. (with the) thieving (slang)
19. The spoil of the chase
20. Wild animals hunted for sport
21. The flesh of such animals
22. A flock of swans (formerly of other animals) kept for pleasure

adjective

1. Of or belonging to animals hunted as game
2. Having the spirit of a fighting cock (informal)
3. Plucky, courageous (informal)
4. Having the necessary spirit and willingness for some act (informal)

intransitive verb

1. To gamble
2. To play a computer game

gameˈly adverb

gameˈness noun

gamˈer noun

1. A person who plays games
2. A dedicated player of computer games
3. An enthusiastic and persistent competitor (US)

gameˈsome adjective

Playful

gameˈsomeness noun

gameˈster noun

1. A gambler
2. A lewd person (Shakespeare)
3. A spirited, playful person (obsolete)

gameˈsy adjective

Keen on sports

gāˈminess, gāˈmyness or gāˈmeyness noun

The condition or quality of being gamy

gamˈing noun

gāˈmy or gāˈmey adjective

1. Having the flavour of game, esp after being kept for a long time
2. Savouring of scandal, sensational
3. Spirited, plucky, lively (informal)

game bag noun

A bag for holding a hunter's game

game ball see game point below.

game bird noun

A bird hunted for sport

Game Boy® noun

A hand-held battery-operated device for playing computer games

game call noun (bridge)

A bid (and contract) which, if successful, will win a game

game-changer noun

game-changing adjective

Bringing about a significant new development

gameˈ-chicken or gameˈcock noun

A cock of a breed trained to fight, a fighting cock

game chips plural noun

Thinly cut (usu disc-shaped) potato chips served with game

gameˈ-dealer noun

game face noun (informal)

A serious, businesslike expression, esp in the phrase have one's game face on

game fish noun

Any freshwater fish of the salmon family except the grayling (cf coarse fish)

game fishing noun

gameˈkeeper noun

A person who looks after game on an estate, etc (also figurative)

game laws plural noun

Laws relating to the protection of game

game licence noun

A licence to kill, or to sell, game

game plan noun

1. The strategy or tactics used by a football team, etc
2. Any carefully devised strategy

gameˈplay noun

(in computer games) the techniques or manner of playing a particular game, as opposed to its graphics, sound effects, etc

game point or game ball noun

The stage at which the next point wins the game

game preserve noun

A tract of land stocked with game preserved for sport or with protected wild animals

game preserver noun

A person who preserves game on his or her land

game show noun

A television show with contestants competing for prizes

gamesˈmanship noun (facetious; title of humorous book by Stephen Potter, 1947)

The art of winning games or, generally, of scoring points by talk or conduct aimed at putting one's opponent off

game tenant noun

A person who rents the right to shoot or fish over a particular area

game theory or games theory noun (mathematics)

The theory concerned with analysing the choices and strategies available in a game or eg business conflict in order to choose the optimum course of action (used eg in training and selection procedures)

game warden noun

A person who looks after game, esp in a game preserve

gaming contract noun

A wager upon any game (eg a horse race or football match)

gaming house noun

A gambling house

gamˈing-table noun

A table used for gambling

ahead of the game

In a more advanced or advantageous position than expected

big game

The larger animals hunted

die game

To keep up courage to the last

give the game away

1. To disclose a secret
2. To give up, abandon (a game or contest) (Aust)

have a game with or make game of

To make sport of, to ridicule

off one's game

Playing badly

on one's game

Playing well

on the game (informal)

Working as a prostitute

play a waiting game see under wait¹

play games with

To amuse oneself by causing inconvenience to (someone)

play the game

To act in a fair, honourable, straightforward manner

red game

Grouse

round game

A game, eg at cards, in which the number of players is not fixed

the game is not worth the candle see under candle

the game is up

The scheme has failed, all is revealed