in a big way: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘in a big way’ mean?
The idiom "in a big way" means to do something on a large scale, with great intensity or significance.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "make a big thing out of" means to exaggerate the importance or significance of something that is relatively trivial or unimportant.
The idiom "in the worst way" means to do something with utmost intensity or in the most extreme manner, often implying a negative or undesirable outcome.
"Hit the big time" is an idiom that means achieving great success or fame, often referring to someone who becomes very successful in their career or achieves a high level of recognition. It implies reaching a significant, noteworthy position or achieving a major breakthrough in one's life or profession.
The idiom "hit it big" means to achieve great success or win a large amount of money, often unexpectedly or after a long period of hard work.
The idiom "great deal" means a large amount or quantity of something. It is used to indicate that there is a significant or considerable extent or degree of something.
The idiom "go to town on" means to do something with great enthusiasm or energy, often with a focus on doing it thoroughly or excessively.
The idiom "go far" means to achieve great success or make significant progress in one's endeavors or career.
The idiom "go all out" means to put in maximum effort or to do something with full dedication and enthusiasm.
Intense Impact
The idiom "in a big way" is commonly used in the English language to convey the idea of doing something to a great extent or with a lot of enthusiasm. It emphasizes the magnitude, intensity, or significance of an action, event, or behavior.
The exact origins of this idiom are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in American English during the early 20th century. Since then, it has gained popularity and is now commonly used in both spoken and written English across various contexts and registers.
When we say someone achieved success "in a big way," we are indicating that they achieved a significant level of success. It emphasizes the extent or impact of their accomplishment. Similarly, when we describe a party as being "thrown in a big way," we are suggesting that the party was large, grand, or lavish in nature.
This idiom can also be used to describe a person's behavior or attitude. If someone expresses their opinion "in a big way," it means they do so with great enthusiasm or conviction. Likewise, if someone falls in love "in a big way," it implies that they are deeply and passionately in love.
Overall, the idiomatic expression "in a big way" is a versatile phrase that emphasizes the magnitude, intensity, or significance of an action, event, or behavior. It adds emphasis and conveys the idea of doing something to a great extent or with a lot of enthusiasm.
Another related idiom is "make a big thing out of." When someone makes a big thing out of a situation or event, they are exaggerating its importance or significance. It implies that they are giving more attention or importance to the situation than necessary.
For example, if someone makes a big thing out of a small mistake, it means they are blowing it out of proportion and making it seem much more significant than it actually is.
The phrase "make a big thing out of" is often used in a negative or critical context, highlighting someone's tendency to overreact or dramatize a situation.
Another related idiom is "big old." When we use the phrase "big old" to describe something, we are emphasizing its size or magnitude.
For instance, if we say "He bought a big old house," we are emphasizing that the house is both big and old, suggesting that it has a significant size and age.
The phrase "big old" can be used with various nouns to emphasize their size or age, such as "big old car," "big old tree," or "big old mountain."
The idiom "in a big way" is commonly used in the English language to emphasize the magnitude, intensity, or significance of an action, event, or behavior. It conveys the idea of doing something to a great extent or with a lot of enthusiasm. Additionally, related idioms like "make a big thing out of" and "big old" add further nuances to the meaning and usage of this idiom. They highlight exaggeration and emphasize size, respectively. These idioms enrich the English language and allow us to convey our thoughts and experiences with greater impact and precision.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "in a big way" can be used in a sentence:
- He celebrated his promotion in a big way by throwing an extravagant party.
- The company invested in a big way in new technology to improve their efficiency.
- She made a mistake and apologized in a big way by publicly admitting her error and taking responsibility.
More "Intensifiers" idioms
