big shot meaning (informal): definition, quotations

big shot

noun

Idiomatic, Informal A person with a reputation of importance or power.

They stopped traffic so some big shot and his entourage could have the whole road to themselves.
'They're just making it look as if all their big shots were gaga. God knows how they're going to unscramble the whole business.'1953, Ian Fleming, “The White Tent”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 138:

Idiomatic, Informal A rare and significant chance to achieve fame or success.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see big, shot.