big wheel

noun

, Informal.

1. an influential or important person:

   a big wheel in business.

big wheel

noun

1. another name for a Ferris wheel
2. informal.
   an important person

Word History and Origins

Origin of big wheel¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Idioms and Phrases

see under big cheese .

Example Sentences

They all drove little cars with great big wheels, and there was no room for their feet.

From Washington Post

Flying across the sand like a four-wheeled rocket, the first fiberglass dune buggy was sleek, stylish and a little whimsical, a small car with big wheels and a tangerine-red paint job.

From Washington Post

But, by all appearances, Hirni himself relishes playing the role of a political big wheel.

From The Daily Beast

"East by nothe, sir," repeated the quartermaster in mechanical tones, spinning the big wheel to the left.

From Project Gutenberg

But just then Lulu felt something pulling her down toward where the big wheel went around and around, and she got frightened.

From Project Gutenberg

The old leveller, Nature, is at her eternal work of rotation, turning the big wheel round.

From Project Gutenberg

I've slid over on the big wheel myself, lots of times, and gone all the way around, under water as well.

From Project Gutenberg

And then the big wheel began to turn—surr, surr, surr—always quicker and quicker.

From Project Gutenberg