Big time

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common informal
Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci

Meaning: To a great degree; seriously; in a major way.

非常;严重地;大规模地。
En gran medida; en serio; a lo grande.
かなり、マジで、大々的に——程度が大きいことを強調する表現。
엄청나게, 심각하게, 대대적으로——정도가 크다는 것을 강조하는 표현.

Used as an intensifier to emphasize how much something happened or how significant it was. Can also refer to the highest level of success ('making it to the big time'). Extremely versatile in casual American speech.

用作强调词,强调某事发生的程度或重要性。也可以指最高级别的成功('making it to the big time',即出人头地)。在美国人的日常口语中用途极广。
Se usa como intensificador para enfatizar cuánto ocurrió algo o lo significativo que fue. También puede referirse al máximo nivel de éxito ('llegar a lo más alto'). Extremadamente versátil en el habla coloquial americana.
何かがどれだけ起こったか、どれだけ重大だったかを強調する強調語として使われる。また、成功の最高レベルを指すこともある(「making it to the big time」=大成する)。カジュアルなアメリカ英語で非常に汎用性が高い。
어떤 일이 얼마나 크게 일어났는지, 얼마나 중요한지를 강조하는 강화어로 쓰인다. 또한 최고 수준의 성공을 가리킬 때도 쓴다('making it to the big time'). 일상적인 미국식 대화에서 매우 다양하게 쓰인다.

Examples

  1. You messed up big time.
    你可搞砸大了。
    La has liado pero bien (messed up big time).
    お前、かなりやらかしたな(messed up big time)。
    너 엄청 망쳤어.
  2. She's big time now — got signed to a major label.
    她现在可是大人物了——签了大厂牌。
    Ahora es alguien importante (big time) — ha firmado con un sello discográfico grande.
    彼女は今やすごい大物だよ(big time)——大手レーベルと契約したんだ。
    그녀 이제 완전 대박이야——메이저 레이블과 계약했어.
  3. I owe you big time for helping me move.
    你帮我搬家,我欠你一个天大的人情。
    Te debo una bien gorda (owe you big time) por ayudarme con la mudanza.
    引っ越し手伝ってくれて、マジで借りができたよ(owe you big time)。
    이사 도와줘서 정말 큰 신세 졌어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual, emphasis, social

Tone: emphatic, casual

✓ Do Say

  • You helped me big time.
    You helped me big time.(你帮了我大忙。)
    Me ayudaste un montón. (You helped me big time.)
    めちゃくちゃ助かったよ(You helped me big time)。
    네 덕분에 큰 도움이 됐어.
  • He screwed up big time.
    He screwed up big time.(他搞砸大了。)
    La ha liado pero bien. (He screwed up big time.)
    あいつ相当やらかしたな(He screwed up big time)。
    그는 엄청 실수했어.

✗ Don't Say

  • Avoid in formal writing — use 'significantly' or 'greatly' instead.
    避免在正式写作中使用——改用'significantly'或'greatly'。
    Evítalo en textos formales — usa 'significativamente' o 'enormemente' en su lugar.
    フォーマルな文章では避けよう——代わりに「significantly」や「greatly」を使おう。
    격식적인 글에서는 피하고, 'significantly'나 'greatly'를 쓰는 것이 좋다.

Origin & History

American expression from the early 20th century, originally referring to the highest tier of vaudeville performance circuits. Extended to mean anything major or significant.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 20th century–present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used nationwide

More From This Topic

I can't even ★★★★★ I'm so overwhelmed, frustrated, or amused that I can't co... Same ★★★★★ I relate to that completely; I feel exactly the same way. Hold my beer ★★★★★ Watch this — I'm about to do something either impressive ... Been there, done that ★★★★★ I've already experienced that; it's nothing new to me. That's a wrap ★★★★★ We're done; it's finished; everything is complete. Go big or go home ★★★★★ Either give maximum effort or don't bother; commit fully ...
X / Twitter WhatsApp Facebook

More from Miscellaneous & Catchphrases

Practice "Big time" on WordLoci

Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free