big picture
106
3.4
- noun
- /bɪɡ ˈpɪk.tʃɚ/
:
panorama general
- During the meeting, the manager emphasized the need to focus on the big picture rather than getting lost in minor issues.
- see the big picture
- look at the big picture
- understand the big picture
But overall, big picture, he is pro-life, right?
- But overall, big picture, he is pro-life, right?
- And I think to me, the big picture is everybody needs to learn.
- We're missing that big picture if we started to address these things.
- But if you start thinking in terms of years, yeah, I mean, big picture to me and tell me what you think.
- Well, you just haven't seen the big picture yet.
- So you got to think about that, you know, big picture.
- So don't lose sight of the bigger picture.
- I've seen you do this and just sort of seeing the big picture.
- So the, the the big the big picture of that is trust.
- His, his, his big picture was very close.
Examples
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To step back and look at the big picture.
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Another thing about getting older is I find myself thinking about the big picture more.
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So have some big picture goal for your life.
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And I think to me, the big picture is everybody needs to learn.
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Number one is the big picture has to matter.
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But there are some big picture things as well.
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We're missing that big picture if we started to address these things.
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Now I see the big picture.
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Step back, see the big picture, take a deep breath, and enjoy the view!
Academic text (2005) -
I think the process looks more at the big picture and possibilities.
Academic text (2012)
Synonyms
713
4.8
The general situation or facts about something
74
3.8
A short summary of the main points of something
58
3.7
A view of the whole situation and its most important facts rather than small details
Antonyms
How Broad
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'overall perspective' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'big' (large/important) with 'picture' (a scene or overall view); the adjective + noun composition yields the sense of the most important or broad view rather than details. This metaphorical but regular extension is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
The phrase big picture gives a clear image: a very large picture that shows the whole scene instead of tiny parts. So when people say 'big picture' they mean the 'main idea' or 'overall situation', not the 'small details'.