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Glite Dictionary
the Big One

the Big One

19 7.9
A very large earthquake that causes great damage, often expected in California
  • noun
  • Informal
translation icon : gran terremoto
  • It was like living through the big one in Kobe.
  • the Big One hit
  • waiting for the Big One
  • the Big One comes

Now, in California, we know that when the big one hits, we're screwed.

Examples

  • Many residents in California prepare emergency kits for when the Big One occurs.

  • I live in Southern California and have been prepared for the Big One for many years.

    Blog text (15)

  • The big one's gonna hit any second.

    Greenland (2020)

  • Now, in California, we know that when the big one hits, we're screwed.

    DoctorRamani

  • FollowTheMoney: In my opinion, this is the big one; this is very different from anything we will probably witness in our lifetime.

    Blog text (3)

  • Nevertheless, a version of it is with us: one of the important discussions in the wake of Sandy is our culpability for the deluge, for future deluges, for the Big One.

    Blog text (12)

  • Experts say that if the Big One strikes, it could cause widespread destruction across the city.

  • Seismologists predict that the Big One might happen sooner than we expect.

Synonyms

disaster
vsthe Big One
∞ 1.0

A sudden event that causes great damage, loss, or failure

is more specific, usually meaning the expected huge earthquake rather than any general event
catastrophe
vsthe Big One
176 7.0

A sudden terrible event that causes great damage and suffering

is used especially for a predicted devastating earthquake in one region
cataclysm
vsthe Big One
19 9.2

A sudden violent event that causes great destruction or change

is narrower, focusing on a specific expected quake rather than broad societal change
earthquake
vsthe Big One
18 4.6

A sudden major change that shocks and upsets a group or system

is used for a physical devastating seismic event commonly expected in California

How Severe

the Big One
  • Informal
19 7.9
earthquake
645 2.2
tremor
19 4.9

Surface Forms

the Big One singular
the Big Ones plural

Morphology

the + big + one

The phrase is compositionally built from 'big' + 'one', so a B1 learner who knows the words will understand it denotes a large or major thing/event. However, the specialized sense 'a major catastrophic event (esp. a devastating earthquake in California)' depends on cultural/disciplinary knowledge and is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making the expression only partly transparent.

Etymology

The noun the Big One comes from people talking about one single, very large disaster, often the huge earthquake people expect in places like California. People imagine a single powerful shake, the big event and the one that does the most damage. So today the Big One means 'a very big disaster', usually a very damaging earthquake.