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big project

big project

14 2.1
A large, important task that takes a lot of time and effort
  • noun
translation icon : gran proyecto
  • We are currently working on a big project that will take several months to complete.

So that became my next big project of unraveling this mystery, right?

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Examples

Synonyms

enterprise
vsbig project
66 4.9

A project that is difficult and needs a lot of work

is similar but stresses importance rather than boldness or initiative
megaproject
vsbig project
1 5.2

A very large, complex plan to build things like a dam or rail line that needs much money and time

is significant and ambitious but less focused on investment and scale
mammoth task
vsbig project
1 5.9

A very large and difficult job that needs a lot of time and effort

is a significant, ambitious undertaking but less extreme in size or difficulty
behemoth of a project
vsbig project
7.5

A very large, difficult project that needs a lot of time and many people

is important and ambitious without necessarily being enormously large

How Ambitious

megaproject
1 5.2
big project
14 2.1
project
2.5
to task
57 2.6

Surface Forms

big project singular
big projects plural

Morphology

big + project

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'big' (large/important) with 'project' (a planned piece of work): together they denote a significant or ambitious task. This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Big project makes you imagine building a large bridge with many workers, plans, and long hours. Because big means large and project means a planned piece of work, the phrase now means 'an important or difficult task that takes a lot of time and effort'.