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large in size, degree, amount, etc. （体积、程度、数量等）大的，巨大的 a big man/house/increase 高大的男人；大房子；大幅度增长 This shirt isn't big enough. 这件衬衣不够大。 It's the world's biggest computer company. 它是全球最大的计算机公司。 - (informal)
He had this great big grin on his face. 他乐开了花。 The lobster's claws are bigger than human hands. 龙虾的爪子比人类的手还大。 The festival is getting bigger every year. 节日一年比一年大。 Her smile grew bigger. 她的笑容越来越大。 They were earning big money. 他们在赚大钱。 The news came as a big blow. 那消息犹如晴天霹雳。
Which Word? big / large / greatbig / large / greatThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:big ~ large ~ great ~ man numbers success house part majority car area interest boy room importance dog company difficulty smile eyes problem problem family pleasure surprise volume beauty question population artist difference problem surprise - Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying ‘fat’.
large 较 big 正式，应该用于书面语，但非正式语体除外。该词通常不用来形容人，除非是为了避免使用 fat（胖）。 - Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases:
great 不仅指大，还常含伟大之意。另注意下列短语的用法： a large amount of 大量 a large number of 许多 a large quantity of 大量 a great deal of 大量 in great detail 非常详细 a person of great age 年长者
Extra ExamplesHe was a big man—tall and broad-shouldered. 他个头高，肩膀宽，是个人高马大的男子。 He was a short man with great big glasses. 他是个小矮个，戴着一副大大的眼镜。 This house is rather big for us. We need something smaller. 这所房子对我们来说有点儿大，我们需要小一点儿的。 There's been a big increase in prices. 价格已大幅度增长。 We were hoping the show would be a really big success. 我们希望这场表演能大获成功。 The whole story is just a big fat lie. 整件事不过是个天大的谎言。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- big fat
- great big
- (informal)
older 年龄较大的 - [only before noun] (rather informal)
important; serious 重大的；严重的 It's a big decision to have to make. 这是不得不做的一个重大决定。 You are making a big mistake. 你正在犯一个严重的错误。 Unemployment is a big problem in the region. 失业是这个地区的一个大问题。 This legislation will make a big difference. 这项立法将有很大的不同。 The big question is: why did they do it? 最大的问题是:他们为什么要这么做？ Housing is a big issue in London. 住房是伦敦的一个大问题。 a potentially big drawback 潜在的一大缺陷 She took the stage for her big moment. 她把这一阶段视为她的重要历程。 It doesn't get bigger than the World Cup Final! 不会比世界杯决赛还大！ Tonight is the biggest match of his career. 今晚是他职业生涯中最重要的比赛。 - (informal)
Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people)? 你真的认为我们能与那些大人物抗衡？
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- big fat
- great big
- (informal)
(of a plan 计划 needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed 庞大的；宏大的 - (informal)
popular with the public; successful 大受欢迎的；成功的 - (informal)
enthusiastic about somebody/something 热衷于…的；狂热的 doing something often or to a large degree 经常（或大量）做某事的 a big eater/drinker/spender 食量大的／有酒量的／花钱手大的人
- big of somebody (usually ironic)
kind or generous 大方的；慷慨的
large大
older年龄较大
important重大
ambitious有雄心
popular受欢迎
enthusiastic热衷
doing something a lot大量做
generous慷慨
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin.
Idioms
be/get too big for your boots
(North American English also be/get too big for your britches)
to be/become too proud of yourself; to behave as if you are more important than you really are 自视过高；妄自尊大
a big cheese
- (informal, humorous)
an important and powerful person, especially in an organization 大人物；要员
big deal!
the big enchilada
- (North American English, informal, humorous)
the most important person or thing 首要人物（或事物）
a big fish (in a small pond)
an important person (in a small community) （小圈子里的）大人物
a big girl’s blouse
- (British English, informal)
a weak man, who is not brave or confident 懦弱的男人；胆小没自信的男人
(the) big mo
- (especially North American English, informal)
the ability to keep moving ahead of your competitors, especially in politics 大人物；要员 In politics, momentum is known as the big mo. 在政治上，气势被称为大mo。 He's picking up a lot of support and has the big mo. 他得到了很多支持，并且有很大的潜力。
a big noise/shot/name
an important person 大人物；要人
the big picture
the big stick
- (informal)
the use or threat of force or power 大棒政策（以武力或权力相威胁） CultureThe phrase was made popular by President Theodore Roosevelt, who said that the US government should 'speak softly and carry a big stick'.
the Big Three, Four, etc.
somebody’s eyes are bigger than their stomach
used to say that somebody has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat （表示贪吃）眼大肚皮小，眼馋肚饱
give somebody/get a big hand
have bigger/other fish to fry
to have more important or more interesting things to do 还有更重要的事情要做；另有他图
have a big mouth
to be bad at keeping secrets 嘴不严；爱泄露秘密 to talk too much, especially about your own abilities and achievements 多嘴；吹牛；自吹自擂
in a big/small way
make a (big) thing of/about something
- (informal)
to make something seem more important than it really is 小题大做；大惊小怪；故弄玄虚
me and my big mouth
- (informal)
used when you realize that you have said something that you should not have said 我真多嘴；真不该说出来
no big deal
too big to fail
- (of a bank or business)
so important to the economy of a country that when it finds itself in financial trouble, the government or central bank must act to save it 重大的；严重的 Shouldering the huge costs of rescuing banks that are too big to fail has been left to taxpayers. 承担拯救大到不能倒的银行的巨大成本已经留给了纳税人。