big beast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, journalistic, political, business
Quick answer
What does “big beast” mean?
A very large and powerful animal. Literally, a creature of great size and often strength.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very large and powerful animal. Literally, a creature of great size and often strength.
An influential, powerful, and often formidable person within a specific field, organisation, or political party. Someone who wields significant authority and commands respect or fear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The metaphorical sense is strongly associated with British political and journalistic discourse. In American English, the literal meaning is more common; the metaphorical sense is understood but used less frequently.
Connotations
UK: Often used with a mix of respect and wariness for established party figures. US: More likely to be used literally or in business contexts for major players.
Frequency
Far more frequent in UK English, especially in political reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “big beast” in a Sentence
[Big Beast] of [Institution/Field] (e.g., big beast of the Treasury)The [Adjective] big beast (e.g., the reigning big beast)To be/be seen as a big beastVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big beast” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He has a real big-beast presence in the party.
American English
- It was a big-beast performance from the defensive line.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to dominant companies or CEOs within an industry (e.g., 'The big beasts of Silicon Valley').
Academic
Rare. Could describe a highly influential scholar in a particular discipline.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used in its literal sense (e.g., talking about zoo animals).
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in political science or media commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big beast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big beast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big beast”
- Using it in formal writing without explanation. Confusing it with 'big game' (which refers to hunted animals or major objectives). Overusing it in non-UK contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though historically less common. Terms like 'big beast of Westminster' are increasingly applied to senior female politicians.
It is generally neutral-to-respectful, acknowledging power and status. However, it can imply someone is intimidating, old-fashioned, or part of an entrenched establishment, which can be negative depending on context.
They are very close synonyms. 'Big beast' has a more vivid, metaphorical, and slightly more informal/jargonistic feel, strongly linked to UK politics. 'Heavyweight' is more standard in both UK and US English across various fields.
Yes, especially in business journalism (e.g., 'the big beasts of the banking sector'). It extends to any dominant entity within a competitive environment.
A very large and powerful animal. Literally, a creature of great size and often strength.
Big beast is usually informal, journalistic, political, business in register.
Big beast: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbiːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbiːst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The big beasts of the jungle (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a lion in the political jungle. The 'biggest' and most powerful animal is the 'big beast' everyone else must deal with or avoid.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS/ORGANISATIONS ARE A JUNGLE. POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE LARGE, DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'big beast' MOST likely used metaphorically?