big daddy

big daddy

The biggest, most important, or most influential person or thing of its kind. He's the big daddy of the recording industry—no one wields more influence than him.
See also: big, daddy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

big daddy

1. An influential man, a big shot (see under big cheese), as in You'll have to get permission from big daddy. [Slang; mid-1900s]
2. A male sweetheart or friend, often a man considerably older than his female companion; a sugar daddy. [Slang; mid-1900s]
3. Grandfather. This usage originated in the South among African-Americans.
4. The largest or most important person or thing of its kind. For example, The United States has long been the big daddy of the Western Hemisphere, or The blue whale was the big daddy of the ocean. [Slang; 1960s]
See also: big, daddy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • daddy of them all
  • the daddy of them all
  • enchilada
  • a big cheese
  • big cheese
  • big cheese, the
  • big shot
  • a big shot
  • bigshot
  • big wheel
References in periodicals archive
Big Daddy Casino's 11-day extravaganza opening celebration is not just about gaming.
Big Daddy commences operations in Goa
It seemed so over the top and Big Daddy reminded me of my grandad."
Getting to grips with Saturday's heroes " MARION MCMULLEN LOOKS BACK TO THE DAYS OF HALF-NELSONS AND HEADLOCKS AS NEW BRITISH MOVIE WALK LIKE A PANTHER PAYS HOMAGE TO THE GOLDEN ERA OF WRESTLING
Big Daddy in over a decade of bouts big daddy Real name Shirley Crabtree.
Seconds out.. World of Sport wrestling is back on the telly; ITV to show one-off festive special
In this production it isn't clear what kind of a marriage she has or whether she loves or fears Big Daddy or how she will deal with his imminent death.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; ERYL CRUMP REVIEW
Black Thor and Black Label are 100 per cent owned by Noront, while Big Daddy is a joint venture between Noront (70 per cent) and Canada Chrome Mining Corporation (30 per cent), a subsidiary of KWG Resources.
Noront files updated Ring of Fire technical report
But if you're Big Daddy Xi, the free-market upheaval sits uneasily with what the Communist Party has promoted as the "China Dream." Xi knows that corruption and incompetence threaten the rule of the party.
Free markets and unfree politics don't easily coexist
"She said, 'Dad, you should do a thing about the two of us.' I thought, 'Yeah, that would be a great comic strip.' So I came up with Big Daddy and Hit Girl.
Kick-Ass Mark My girl's a hit with me
Every night Big Daddy went home to his wife and four children he had no intention of leaving.
Sweet Daddy's Mercedes
But Kenilworthbased Banger will be hoping for a better reception when he takes his seat at Eathorpe VIllage Hall tomorrow for a play based on the life of Shirley Crabtree - aka Big Daddy.
Banger recalls the Daddy of wrestling
Chick D'Agostino and Big Daddy Kerr went right along working, harder and smarter--as if they--not government--were the captains of their fate.
Success for Niagara Falls tour company comes without government subsidy
We--my brother and cousins and I, would grin fiendishly and bubble with laughter when Big Daddy asked us if we had "et" or when Big Mama would tell us she needed the "yard broom" to rake up the leaves.
My southern language
Nobody wants to look in the mirror and see themselves getting closer to the end of their life" Actress Julianne Moore "I felt like I was Big Daddy with sequins.
THEY SAID WHAT?
I couldn't agree more with Big Daddy 'Beauty deals for kids, dad's disgust at early brainwashing in ugly industry' (Oct 15).
Kids should have play days, not spa days-
Full Sail's most recent "Brewer's Share" limited edition beer is Big Daddy J's Malt Liquor, developed by assistant brewing supervisor Jason Munoz (pictured above).
Full Sail brewer classes up malt liquor with Big Daddy J's