big fish eat little fish
The powerful prey on the weak.
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big fish in a small pond
Someone important in a limited environment
big girl
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big gun
An important or influential person
big hand
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big head
having a high opinion of oneself
big kahuna
An important or powerful person
big mad
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big money
A large amount of money
big mouth
Someone who talks too much and reveals secrets
big name
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big O
Orgasm.
big ol'
very large or significant
big old
extremely large or impressive
big ole
something or someone large in size or amount
big one
Death.
big ones
dollars.
big or small
Regardless of size or importance
big picture
Overall situation or main idea
big screen
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big shop
a large retail store
big shot
An important or influential person
big sleep
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big spender
Someone who spends money freely and generously
Big Stoush
Probably from English stashie an uproar.
big talk
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
big tamale
An important or influential person
big tent
A broad and inclusive group or organization
big wheel
An important or influential person
big-bird
TO GET THE, i.e., to be hissed, as actors occasionally are by the "gods." BIG-BIRD is simply a metaphor for goose.—Theat. Slang.
big-wig
A person in authority or office. Exchangeable with "GREAT GUN."
bigger and better
Improved or more impressive in size or quality
bigger fish to fry
More important things to attend to
bih
A bitch.
bilbo
A sword; abbrev. of "BILBAO blade." Spanish swords were anciently very celebrated, especially those of Toledo, Bilbao, &c.
bilboa
A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once famous for well-tempered blades: these are quoted by Falstaff, where he describes the manner in which he lay in the buck-basket. Bilboes, the stock; prison. Cant.
bilk
A cheat, or a swindler. Formerly in general use, now confined to the streets, where it is common, and mostly used in reference to prostitutes. Gothic, BILAICAN.
bill at sight
To pay a bill at sight; to be ready at all times for the venereal act.
Bill of Attainder
A legislative Act, introduced and passed exactly like any other Bill, declaring a person or pers9ns attainted. It was originally used only against offenders who fled from justice, but was soon perverted to the destruction of political opponents, etc. The last Bill of Attainder m England was that passed in 1697 for the attainting and execution of Sir John Fenwick for participation in the Assassination plot.
bill of exchange
An order transferring a named sum of money at a given date from the debtor ("drawee") to the creditor ("drawer"). The drawee having signed the bill becomes the "acceptor," and the document is then negotiable in commercial circles just as is money itself.
bill of fare
A list of the dishes provided, or which may be ordered, at a restaurant, etc.; a menu.
bill of goods
a set of ideas or products being sold or promoted
bill of health
A document, duly signed by the proper authorities, to certify that when the ship set sail no infectious disorder existed in
bill of lading
A document signed by the master of a ship in acknowledgment of goods laden m his vessel. In this document he binds himself to deliver the articles in good condition to the persons named in the bill, certain exceptions being duly provided for. These bills are generally in triplicate — one for the sender, one for the receiver, and one for the master of the vessel.
Bill of Pains and Penalties
A legislative Act imposing punishment (less than capital) upon a person charged with treason or other high crimes. It is like a Bill of Attainder (q. v.), differing from it in that the punishment is never capital and the children are not affected.
bill of quantities
An abstract of the prob- able cost of a building, etc.
Bill of Rights
The declaration delivered to the Prince of Orange (William III) on his election to the British throne, and accepted by him, confirming the rights and privileges of the people. (Feb. 13th, 1689.
bill of sale
A widow's weeds. See HOUSE TO LET.
bill of sale
When a person borrows money and delivers goods as security, he gives the lender a " bill of sale," that is, permission to sell the goods if the money is not returned on a stated day.
billingsgate
(when applied to speech), foul and coarse language. Many years since people used to visit Thames Street to hear the Billingsgate fishwomen abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr. Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known.
billingsgate language
Foul language, or abuse. Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes, they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand.
billingsgate pheasant
A red herring; a bloater. Billy, A policeman's staff, which is a little bill or billet.
Bills of Mortality
In 1592, wben a great pestilence broke out, the Company of Parish Clerks, representing 109 parishes in and around London, began to publish weekly returns of all deaths occurring; these later included births or baptisms, but continued to be known as "bills of mortality." The term is now used for those abstracts from parish registers which show the births, deaths, and baptisms of the district.
bills receivable
Promissory notes, bills of exchange, or other acceptances^held by a person to whom the money stated is payable.
billy
A silk pocket-handkerchief.—Scotch.—See WIPE.
Billy Barlow
A street droll, a merry- andrew; so called from a half-idiot of the name,, who fancied himself some great person- age. He was well known in the East of Lon- don in the early half of last century, and died in Whitechapel workhouse. Some of his sayings were really witty, and some of his attitudes really droll.
billy boy
A bluff-bowed, North Country coasting vessel of river-barge build.
billy goat
A male goat. From this came the term once common for a tufted beard — a "billy" — or goatee.
billy-barlow
A street clown; sometimes termed a JIM CROW, or SALTIMBANCO,—so called from the hero of a slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse.
billy-cock
A soft felt hat of the Jim Crow or "wide-awake" description.
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