______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Learn more English in a Minute
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
‘Big’ is not small! You might like a big slice of cake, own a big car or wear clothes that are too big. There are some English phrases with the word 'big' – learn some of them here with Beth.
Phrases with 'big'
a big deal
very important or serious
- You got 100% in the test? Well done. That’s a big deal!
a big fish in a small pond
a person who is important or has a lot of influence in a small group
- Would you prefer to work in a large company, or do you prefer being a big fish in a small pond?
the big picture/the bigger picture
everything related to a situation, like how the details affect everything else
- You can’t quit piano just because you don’t like your teacher. Think about the bigger picture.
big shoes to fill
be as good as the person who had the same job or position before you
- I’m nervous about the new replacement teacher. They’ve got big shoes to fill.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Download a free transcript!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Beth
It's not small… it's big!
If you say something is a big deal, you think it's very important or serious.
You're moving to Australia? That's a big deal. I won't see you for ages!
A big fish in a small pond is a person who is important, or has a lot of influence, in a small group.
I manage a small team and I love it. I'd always rather be a big fish in a small pond.
The big picture or the bigger picture is everything related to a situation, like how the details affect everything else.
You earn a lot of money, but you work so many hours and you're always tired. You need to think about the big picture and take a rest.
And if you have big shoes to fill, you need to be as good as the person who had the same job or position before you.
I don't envy the person taking over my boss's job. Those are big shoes to fill.
Next
Learn more phrases and expressions in The English We Speak.
Find our latest programmes here.
최신 English in a Minute Series 5
Phrases with 'cards'
Episode 260120 / 20 Jan 2026
Knowledge of more phrases is on the cards if you watch this video
Phrases with 'bone'
Episode 251202 / 02 Dec 2025
You'll love these phrases – I can feel it in my bones!
Phrases with 'cake'
Episode 251125 / 25 Nov 2025
Learning English is a piece of cake with BBC Learning English!
Phrases with 'wind'
Episode 251111 / 11 Nov 2025
It's time to throw caution to the wind and learn some phrases to use with 'wind'.
Phrases with 'pull'
Episode 251021 / 21 Oct 2025
Pull out all the stops and learn four phrases with 'pull' here.
Phrases with 'look'
Episode 250930 / 30 Sep 2025
Look the part with these four expressions with 'look'
Phrases with 'hit'
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Learn these phrases this week to hit the ground running next week!
Phrases with 'fire'
Episode 250805 / 05 Aug 2025
Learn these phrases, and you'll be on fire in your English conversations!
Phrases with 'stone'
Episode 250715 / 15 Jul 2025
Leave no stone unturned when it comes to your English study!
Phrases with 'blue'
Episode 250708 / 11 Jul 2025
How many 'blue' phrases do you know? Learn three more here.
Phrases with 'ice'
Episode 250701 / 11 Jul 2025
Don't put your learning on ice – learn these phrases with 'ice' today!
