Big dog
idiom / noun phrase
Definition
1. An important, powerful, or influential person.
2. The dominant leader or top performer in a group or field.
3. Someone with authority and status.
4. (literal) a large-sized dog.
2. The dominant leader or top performer in a group or field.
3. Someone with authority and status.
4. (literal) a large-sized dog.
Context Alive
The young sales representative was nervous about the meeting because all the big dogs from headquarters would be there, executives whose decisions could make or break careers and whose opinions carried more weight than anyone else’s in the company.
Meanings
6 meanings 1 An Important or Powerful Person (Noun — Slang) — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This is the meaning you’ll hear constantly in casual conversation, especially in American English. A big dog is someone with power, influence, and status—the person who makes things happen, who everyone respects or fears, who sits at the head of the table. When people say “he’s a big dog,” they mean he’s a major player, someone important. It’s informal but not disrespectful—often it’s admiring.
Vivid ExampleEveryone straightened up when the big dogs from corporate walked into the office, suddenly pretending to be busier and more professional than they’d been five minutes earlier when they were joking around by the coffee machine.
2 The Dominant Leader or Top Competitor (Noun — Slang) — VERY COMMON Common ▼
In any field—business, sports, entertainment, politics—there are big dogs: the top performers, the industry leaders, the ones everyone else is trying to catch. When a small company competes with Apple or Google, they’re “running with the big dogs.” It suggests being at the highest level where only the best survive.
Vivid ExampleThe tiny startup somehow landed a contract that put them in direct competition with the big dogs of the tech industry, a David-versus-Goliath situation that either would make them famous or crush them completely.
3 Someone Showing Off Confidence or Dominance (Noun — Slang) — COMMON Common ▼
Sometimes people call themselves a big dog or act like a big dog to project confidence and dominance—sometimes genuinely, sometimes with a bit of humor or irony. If someone struts into a room acting like they own the place, they’re trying to be the big dog. It can be admiring or slightly mocking depending on context.
Vivid ExampleAfter closing the biggest deal of his career, he walked back into the office acting like the big dog he now believed himself to be, buying lunch for the whole team and grinning like he’d just won the lottery.
4 'If You Want to Run with the Big Dogs...' (Idiomatic) — COMMON Common ▼
There’s a popular saying: “If you want to run with the big dogs, you can’t pee like a puppy.” It means if you want to compete at the highest level, you need to perform like a champion—no excuses, no weakness. People use this expression when someone is entering a competitive arena where only the strong survive.
Vivid ExampleHer coach warned her that playing at the national level meant running with the big dogs, where nobody would care about her small-town records and she’d have to prove herself all over again against athletes who’d been training their whole lives.
5 'Let the Big Dog Eat' (Idiomatic — Sports) — LESS COMMON Common ▼
In sports, especially American football and golf, “let the big dog eat” means letting your best player or biggest weapon do their thing—giving the ball to your star player, or in golf, swinging your driver as hard as you can. It’s about unleashing power and letting talent take over.
Vivid ExampleWith the game on the line and only seconds left, the coach decided to let the big dog eat, calling a play designed to get the ball into his star quarterback’s hands and trusting him to make something magical happen.
6 A Literal Large Dog (Noun) — COMMON Common ▼
Of course, sometimes a big dog is just… a big dog! A Great Dane, a Saint Bernard, a Mastiff—any large breed that takes up half the couch and eats more than you do. People use this phrase literally when talking about their oversized pets or when distinguishing large breeds from smaller ones.
Vivid ExampleThe apartment building technically allowed pets, but her landlord made a face when he saw her big dog for the first time, clearly not expecting a hundred-pound German Shepherd to come bounding through the tiny doorway.
Examples from the Street
“He’s the big dog around here — nothing happens without his approval.”
He’s the boss; the most powerful and influential person in this place
“What’s up, big dog?”
Hey, friend! / What’s going on, mate? (casual greeting)
“If you want to run with the big dogs, you’ve got to step up your game.”
If you want to compete with the top people, you need to improve significantly
Common Patterns
the big dog → the boss; the most important or powerful person
a big dog in field/industry → an influential person in a particular area
the big dogs → the top people; those with power and influence
one of the big dogs → among the most important people
become/be a big dog → reach a position of power or importance
what’s up, big dog? → casual greeting to a friend
hey/yo, big dog → informal way to address someone (usually male)
thanks, big dog → expressing gratitude casually
my big dog → my close friend; my mate
run with the big dogs → compete at the highest level
play with the big dogs → participate among the elite
big dog energy → confident, dominant presence (slang)
top dog → the leader; the most successful person (related expression)
Collocations
2 collocationsthe big dog
the dominant or most powerful person
run with the big dogs
compete at the highest level
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Don’t bother talking to the managers — go straight to the big dog if you want a real answer
Skip the supervisors — speak directly to the boss if you want a proper response.
2
She’s a big dog in the tech industry — every startup wants her as an investor
She’s a major player in the technology sector — every new company wants her backing.
3
When the big dogs meet, the rest of us just have to wait and see what they decide
When the top executives gather, everyone else simply has to be patient and accept their conclusions.
4
What’s up, big dog? Haven’t seen you in ages!
Hey, mate! It’s been forever since we last met!
5
Thanks for helping me move, big dog — I owe you one
Cheers for giving me a hand with the house move, buddy — I’m in your debt.
6
He started as an intern, but now he’s one of the big dogs at the company
He began as a trainee, but now he’s among the most important people in the organisation.
7
If you want to run with the big dogs, you need to be prepared to work weekends
If you want to compete at the top level, you have to be ready to sacrifice your free time.
8
She walked into the meeting with big dog energy and immediately took control
She entered the room with confident authority and instantly dominated the discussion.
9
In this neighbourhood, he’s the big dog — everyone knows and respects him
In this area, he’s the most influential figure — everybody recognises and admires him.
10
The small company is now playing with the big dogs after landing that government contract
The little business is now competing among the major players after winning that public sector deal.
Learner Examples
★
Once your English reaches an advanced level, you can run with the big dogs and participate in international conferences
After your language skills become highly developed, you can compete at the highest level and contribute to global professional gatherings.
★
The examiner is the big dog in the room during a speaking test — students need to impress them, not their classmates
The assessor is the most important person present during an oral examination — learners must make a good impression on them, not their fellow students.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items Idioms & Expressionstop dog — the most powerful person
After years of competition, their company became the top dog in the market.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsbig shot
an important, powerful person
top dog
the one in charge
heavyweight
someone with influence
major player
someone who matters in a field
Antonymsnobody
an unimportant person
small fry
informal, someone insignificant