big as life

1. Also, larger than life ; big as all outdoors . On a grand scale, as in The soap opera could well be called a larger-than-life drama , or That friend of his was as big as all outdoors . This phrase can be used either literally, for larger than life-size (second example) or figuratively. The phrase all outdoors has been used to compare something or someone to an immensity since the early 1800s.

2. Also, large as life . In person, as in And there was Mary, big as life, standing right in front of me . This phrase transfers the same size as in real life (life-size) to an actual appearance. Sometimes this term is embellished with and quite as natural , presumably alluding to a likeness of a person or thing that closely resembles the real thing. A similar addition is and twice as natural , which doesn't make sense. [Late 1800s]

Related Words

• apparent
• appreciable
• distinct
• eye-catching
• marked
• notable
• noteworthy
• observable
• obvious
• palpable
• perceptible
• prominent
• remarkable
• salient
• spectacular
• striking
• unmistakable