big league

noun
1.
Sports. major league.
2.
Often, big leagues. Informal. the area of greatest competition, highest achievement or rewards, etc.:
He's a local politician who isn't ready for the big league.
Origin
1895-1900

big-league

[big-leeg] /ˈbɪgˈlig/
adjective
1.
Sports. of or belonging to a major league:
a big-league pitcher.
2.
Informal. among the largest, foremost, etc., of its kind:
the big-league steel companies.
Origin
1895-1900; adj. use of big league
Examples from the web for big-league
  • Scouts had been whispering throughout spring training that he could no longer catch up with a big-league fastball.
  • Despite that, science rarely becomes part of big-league politicking.
  • Given the paucity of good big-league players, the opportunity usually arrives more likely sooner than later.
Slang definitions & phrases for big-league

big-league

adjective

Serious; important; professional: No more fooling around, now it's big-league stuff (1940s+)


Idioms and Phrases with big-league

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.