Big time

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Big time: on a grand scale, or denoting major success; used both sincerely and ironically in verse, it can signal ambition fulfilled or satirise the culture of celebrity and spectacle.

Detailed Definition
Big time, an idiomatic phrase denoting a significant breakthrough, major success, or arrival at a level of prominence and achievement, is employed in poetry within ambition-themed verses to capture celebratory rise, pivotal turning points in personal journeys, the thrill of validation after struggle, and the transformative nature of realizing one's potential. This expression energizes narrative arcs involving underdogs achieving recognition, artists gaining acclaim, or individuals stepping into larger destinies, allowing poets to contrast humble beginnings with newfound status, examine the double-edged sword of fame including its pressures and isolation, and evoke euphoric moments of elevation that resonate with readers' aspirations, often blending colloquial vigor with reflective depth to humanize the pursuit of greatness in both light-hearted and introspective works.
Example
Example in poetry:
A modern poem might say the singer made it big time but lost her quiet mornings; In satire, big time can expose the emptiness of fame and applause; The phrase suits a narrative of sudden success or public recognition; A poet could use it ironically for a very small victory treated as grand.
Additional Notes
Big time can mean major success, fame, or large-scale action. Its informality makes it useful in contemporary poetry, song-like verse, and dramatic monologue. It may suggest celebrity culture, ambition, commerce, or exaggerated self-belief. Students should notice that the phrase can be sincere or ironic: a character may dream of the big time while the poem quietly reveals the cost of such aspiration.
Also Known As
In a big way seriously
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