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Synonyms

big shot

American  

noun

Informal.

  1. an important or influential person.

big shot British  

noun

  1. informal an important or influential person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
big shot Idioms  

  1. see under big cheese.

Etymology

Origin of big shot

First recorded in 1905–10

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.

He likes to be the big shot and the center of attention.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Later in the chat, a Binance VIP client manager said: “Karry the big shot, haha. Boss Rock has mentioned you before.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

“It’s a big shot in the arm,” manager Dave Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

"Not a big shot or having high thoughts of himself. He was back in training and being the same kid."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

He had sat here for two years watching Archie play his silly games with kids, having Archie act the big shot as if he ran the show.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

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.