big-note: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (regional, chiefly Australian)Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “big-note” mean?
To boast about oneself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To boast about oneself; to promote or praise oneself excessively.
To act in a self-important or swaggering manner; to make oneself appear more significant or accomplished than is the case.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly Australian. It is rarely used in British or American English, where synonyms like 'boast', 'brag', or 'show off' are standard.
Connotations
In its Australian context, it implies not just boasting but a specific, often obnoxious, act of trying to inflate one's own status or importance in the eyes of others.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of Australia. An American or British speaker would likely not use or immediately recognise this term.
Grammar
How to Use “big-note” in a Sentence
[Subject] big-notes [Reflexive Pronoun] (about [something])[Subject] is big-noting [Reflexive Pronoun] againVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big-note” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always big-noting himself at the pub, going on about his 'important' job in the city.
American English
- (US equivalent) He's always bragging at the bar about his high-powered finance job.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely used) He has a big-note attitude that puts people off.
American English
- (US equivalent) He has a boastful, swaggering attitude that puts people off.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used negatively to describe colleagues who excessively self-promote. ('He spent the whole conference big-noting himself instead of listening.')
Academic
Virtually never used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Used in casual Australian speech to criticize someone for bragging. ('She's always big-noting about her new car.')
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big-note”
- Using it without the reflexive pronoun (e.g., 'He big-noted' is incorrect; it must be 'He big-noted himself').
- Using it as a simple noun (e.g., 'He is a big-note' is non-standard; the term is primarily verbal).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively low-frequency and is chiefly used in Australian English. It is considered informal and colloquial.
Its use as a noun ('he's a big-note') is non-standard and very rare. The term is almost exclusively used as a phrasal verb: 'to big-note oneself'.
It is a reflexive verb. The correct pattern is [Subject] + big-note + [Reflexive Pronoun] (e.g., myself, yourself, himself). You must include the reflexive pronoun.
While synonymous, 'big-note' often carries a stronger connotation of active, performative self-aggrandizement intended to impress a specific audience, and is more vividly colloquial and regional.
To boast about oneself.
Big-note is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Big-note: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈnəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈnoʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's always big-noting himself at meetings.”
- “Don't big-note yourself just because you got a promotion.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone writing a BIG musical NOTE about themselves on a billboard for everyone to see—it's a showy, boastful act.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-IMPORTANCE IS A LARGE, LOUD ANNOUNCEMENT (a 'big note' is a prominent, noisy statement drawing attention to itself).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'big-note' primarily used?