big shot

noun

, Informal.

1. an important or influential person.

big shot

noun

1. informal.
   an important or influential person

Word History and Origins

Origin of big shot¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Idioms and Phrases

see under big cheese .

Example Sentences

Bates would later recall an assistant director of the FBI barging into the case, “a big shot from Los Angeles who doesn’t know me from Adam.”

From Vox

I met someone recently who immediately launched into a 30-second commercial on what a big shot he was, reminding me of a common way of interacting before the pandemic, based on trying to prove your worth based on some external marker of success.

From Washington Post

He didn’t get going until he made the last like two or three shots — which were big shots, by the way.

From Washington Post

“She’s the queen of making big shots,” said Makrigiorgos’s older sister, Tedi, who was one of the few spectators in the bleachers.

From Washington Post

Cut the lead I think to six, a couple of times, and they came and hit a big shot.

From Washington Post

VATICAN CITY — By now, news that Pope Francis has fired yet another Vatican big shot is hardly shocking.

From The Daily Beast

Now, the villain of 2009 is just another big shot getting the good stuff before the rest of us.

From The Daily Beast

Christie did not appreciate the man “shooting his mouth off” and thinking himself such a “real big shot.”

From The Daily Beast

These are very good times indeed to be a big-shot financier.

From The Daily Beast

He was the first big shot political insider whom I spoke to regularly, whose home phone number I had, things like that.

From The Daily Beast

Engel probably had gone upstairs to try and peddle one of his efficiency schemes to some big shot.

From Project Gutenberg

Somebody kicked Fanshaw—the Jolly Lad big-shot—in the belly.

From Project Gutenberg

Then came a big shot that knocked over the pivot-gun, and killed half its crew.

From Project Gutenberg

This big shot would tear a rabbit all to pieces and I believe we are more apt to see rabbits than deer.

From Project Gutenberg

You know how every super-jet big shot on twenty-five planets wants to say he's hunted on Khatka.

From Project Gutenberg