big league


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big leagues

An area, echelon, or sphere of great competition, success, power, achievement, etc. Refers to major (i.e., "big") leagues of sports teams. I know you're new here, but you need to perform much better than that. You're in the big leagues now. Welcome to the big leagues, senator. With this promotion, you'll be working in the big leagues. Can you handle it?
See also: big, league

big-league

Describing or indicative of the highest level of something. That's a tough injury to come back from—I wonder if he'll ever be a big-league pitcher again. Welcome to the Senate, John. You're a big-league politician now. If we could get a big-league actor like him to sign onto our movie, people might actually go and see it!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

big league

An area of tough competition and high rewards; the largest or foremost of its kind. For example, Winning an Oscar put this unknown actress in the big league. The term alludes to the major (big) leagues of American baseball. [Late 1800s] Also see big time, def. 2.
See also: big, league
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

big league

1. n. a situation where competition is keen and a high level of performance is expected. (Usually plural. Referred originally to major league sports.) You’re in the big leagues now—no more penny-ante stuff.
2. and big-league mod. professional; big time. (From baseball.) When I’m a big-league star, I’ll send you free tickets.
See also: big, league
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Keeping it in the ball park. (Applications in Plastics)
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