almost at a particular time.

School had started and it was getting on toward Thanksgiving.

Usage notes: sometimes used without toward or for:

It was getting on 8:00 a.m.

• a big ask
• a big cheese
• a big deal
• a big fish
• a big fish in a small pond
• a big girl's blouse
• a big gun
• a big-head
• a big-mouth
• a big mouth
• a big noise
• a big shot
• a big wheel
• a billet-doux
• a bird-brain
• a bird in the hand
• a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
• a bird's eye view
• a bite of the cherry
• a bite to eat
• a bit much
• a bit of all right
• a bit of fluff
• a bit of how's your father
• a bit of rough