big idea

See synonyms for big idea on Thesaurus.com
nounInformal.
  1. any plan or proposal that is grandiose, impractical, and usually unsolicited: You're always coming around here with your big ideas.

  2. purpose; intention; aim: What's the big idea of shouting at me?

Origin of big idea

1
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use big idea in a sentence

  • He talks nonsense some of the time, but occasionally he knocks me down with a big idea—or his way of putting a big idea.

    A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith Nicholson
  • "I say, Maggie, what was the big idea in keeping us—" he was beginning in a grumbling tone, when he saw Larry just beyond her.

  • The big idea was, of course, that where gold is found the white man comes along, and the Indian he has to move.

    Stepsons of Light | Eugene Manlove Rhodes
  • He always did that when he was thinking hard, and now that the "big idea" had come to him he was thinking harder than ever.

  • The big idea now is to get Ivan Nikolsk to a good Russian hospital, and get him there fast.