big-lipped alligator moment
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A notably unusual, tangential scene in a movie or similar work of fiction, which occurs without setup and does not affect the story afterward.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
This may be the first case where the *entire* movie is a Big Lipped Alligator Moment . . .
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “big-lipped alligator moment” mean?
A notably unusual, tangential scene in a movie or similar work of fiction, which occurs without setup and does not affect the story afterward.
Is “big-lipped alligator moment” formal or informal?
big-lipped alligator moment is generally slang.