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Glite Dictionary
to hit the big time

to hit the big time

7 4.5
To become very successful and famous in your work
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : alcanzar el éxito
  • After years of hard work, the actress finally hit the big time when she won an Oscar.
  • finally hit the big time

And it's conceivable that that dream will hit the big time, but the odds are are really stacked against the entrepreneur who won't listen and learn.

Examples

Synonyms

to make it
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
207 3.4

To become very successful in a job or career

highlights success that also produces notable recognition
to take off
vsto hit the big time
86 3.0

To become successful or popular very quickly

can be similar but stresses reaching recognized status over time
to hit the jackpot
vsto hit the big time
24 4.0

To have a big, unexpected success because of luck

normally implies achieved success through work and visible recognition
to take by storm
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
23 4.4

To quickly become very popular and liked by many people

focuses on long-term career success and formal recognition
to make it big
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
18 4.1

Become very successful in a job or career

emphasizes achieving success that brings public recognition
to hit a home run
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
17 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

is similar but stresses lasting recognition in a career
to make your mark
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
11 4.1

To get noticed for your work in an area, for example in art or business

is broader, focusing on large success and public fame
to hit it big
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
9 5.1

To become very successful, often quickly

focuses on success that also brings wide recognition
to hit pay dirt
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
8 7.5

To find big success or money after trying hard

focuses more on notable public recognition than just profit
to set the world on fire
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
4 7.1

To have a big success that many people notice

is similar but centers on long-term career recognition
to hit one out of the ballpark
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
1 7.4

Do much better than expected

focuses more on steady career recognition than a single big win
to blow the doors off
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

emphasizes lasting fame and career recognition rather than a single event
to make one's mark
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
4.8

Get recognition and success in a field

covers larger-scale success and wider public recognition
to knock out of the box
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
8.0

To impress many people by doing something very well

is about reaching broad recognition over time rather than one surprise
to take off like gangbusters
vsto hit the big time
  • Informal
8.2

Become very popular or successful very quickly

is about achieving great success that brings lasting recognition
to take the market by storm
vsto hit the big time
4.4

To become very popular with customers and sell a lot very quickly

is broader, meaning major recognition across a career or field

Antonyms

to fail
898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

unnoticed
57 2.5

Other people do not see or pay attention to it

How Successful

to hit the big time
  • Informal
7 4.5
to do well
520 1.2

Surface Forms

hit the big time infinitive
hit the big time past
hit the big time past participle
hitting the big time present participle
hits the big time third person singular

Morphology

hit + the + big + times

There is a visible compositional link: 'hit' in the sense of 'reach/achieve' plus 'big time' (a major, important period) plausibly points to achieving major success, so a learner who knows the words could infer the general idea. However, the expression is an entrenched idiomatic phrasing with a metaphorical, culture-specific nuance (sudden/wide recognition) and fixed form, so the exact meaning and usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom hit the big time comes from the world of theatre and music. The big time was the main stage where top acts played, and to hit it meant to reach that stage, so hit the big time now means 'great success'.