the big leagues

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   The highest level of a sport or activity, where the best and most famous people compete.

   Grammar: Used with 'the' and normally in the plural; it can follow 'in' or 'to': play in the big leagues, make it to the big leagues.

   Patterns

   • in the big leagues
   • make it to the big leagues
   • play in the big leagues

   After ten years in small local teams, he finally made it to the big leagues.

   She pitches in the big leagues now, so every game is watched by millions.

   Winning that contract put the little company in the big leagues.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative

   A very important or serious level of business or adult life, compared with smaller, less serious situations.

   Grammar: Figurative use; often after 'in' or 'not in': this is the big leagues, we are in the big leagues now.

   Patterns

   • in the big leagues
   • not in the big leagues anymore
   • this is the big leagues

   Now that we work with international banks, we're in the big leagues.

   Losing one client is painful, but welcome to the big leagues.

   He talks like a beginner, but he's playing in the big leagues.

Common combinations

make it to the big leagues

Only a few players ever make it to the big leagues.

play in the big leagues

She has played in the big leagues for six seasons.

in the big leagues now

We're in the big leagues now, so the rules are different.

a big-league team

He was traded to a big-league team last spring.

not ready for the big leagues

The young pitcher is talented but not ready for the big leagues.

Synonyms and how they differ

the major leagues

Almost the same meaning and also used figuratively, but it is the literal name of the top level in baseball, so it sounds more sport-specific.

the top flight

A British-flavored way to say the highest level, used mostly for soccer and other sports, not for business.

the premier league

Suggests the single best group or competition, often in sport; 'the big leagues' is more informal and broader.

Opposites

Word family

big-league adjective

Used before a noun to mean top-level or major: a big-league contract.

big-leaguer noun

Informal word for a player or person at the top level.

Commonly confused: the big leagues or the Little League?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “the big leagues”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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