big picture
183
3.4
- noun
- /bɪɡ ˈpɪk.tʃɚ/
- 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
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Watch on YouTubeBut 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
638
4.8
The general situation or facts about something
132
3.7
A view of the whole situation and its most important facts rather than small details
69
3.8
A short summary of the main points of something
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'.