giant killer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, occasionally journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “giant killer” mean?
An underdog who defeats a much more powerful opponent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An underdog who defeats a much more powerful opponent.
A person, team, or entity that achieves a surprising victory against a vastly superior rival; also refers metaphorically to a small force that overcomes a dominant one.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight spelling preference for hyphenation as 'giant-killer' in UK; both forms accepted in US. More frequent in UK sports journalism.
Connotations
Similar core meaning. In UK, strongly associated with football (soccer) cup competitions where lower-league teams beat top sides.
Frequency
More common in UK English, particularly in sports contexts. In US, slightly more common in business/political metaphor.
Grammar
How to Use “giant killer” in a Sentence
[Team X] proved to be a giant killer[Person Y] earned a reputation as a giant killera giant killer in [field Z]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “giant killer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The non-league side giant-killed three Championship teams in a row.
American English
- The indie studio giant-killed the major publishers at the awards.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A small startup that outcompetes a market leader.
Academic
Rare; used metaphorically in political science/history for minor powers defeating major ones.
Everyday
Mainly sports: 'Our local team were giant killers in the tournament.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “giant killer”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “giant killer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “giant killer”
- Using it to describe someone who is literally large and violent.
- Using it without the element of surprise or underdog status.
- Incorrect plural: 'giant killers' (correct), not 'giants killer'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, informally, especially in sports/business journalism (e.g., 'They giant-killed the favourites'). The hyphenated form 'giant-kill' is common.
An 'underdog' is simply expected to lose. A 'giant killer' is an underdog who has actually *achieved* a surprising victory.
Mostly, as it celebrates overcoming odds. However, from the favourite's perspective, it can have a negative connotation of an embarrassing defeat.
Using it to describe someone physically large and aggressive, missing the crucial 'defeating a stronger opponent' meaning.
An underdog who defeats a much more powerful opponent.
Giant killer is usually informal, occasionally journalistic. in register.
Giant killer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪ.ənt ˈkɪl.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒaɪ.ənt ˈkɪl.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to slay the giant”
- “a David and Goliath story”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the fairy tale 'Jack the Giant Killer' – a small boy defeating huge foes.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR / THE WEAK CAN DEFEAT THE STRONG.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'giant killer' LEAST likely to be used?