big leagues

big leagues

An area, echelon, or sphere of great competition, success, power, achievement, etc. Refers to major (i.e., "big") leagues of sports teams. I know you're new here, but you need to perform much better than that. You're in the big leagues now. Welcome to the big leagues, senator.
See also: big, league
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

big league

An area of tough competition and high rewards; the largest or foremost of its kind. For example, Winning an Oscar put this unknown actress in the big league. The term alludes to the major (big) leagues of American baseball. [Late 1800s] Also see big time, def. 2.
See also: big, league
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

big league

1. n. a situation where competition is keen and a high level of performance is expected. (Usually plural. Referred originally to major league sports.) You’re in the big leagues now—no more penny-ante stuff.
2. and big-league mod. professional; big time. (From baseball.) When I’m a big-league star, I’ll send you free tickets.
See also: big, league
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • big league
  • major league(s)
  • play in the big leagues
  • bushel
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • it takes one bad apple to spoil the (whole) bunch
  • it takes one bad apple to spoil the (whole) bushel
References in periodicals archive
Current and former Big League partners include Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, Buster Posey, David Ortiz and Jose Bautista, and other players who advise, test, and approve Marucci's full line of baseball and softball products before going to market.
Most recent prospects leaving Cuba in search of promised big league wealth and notoriety have only abandoned the homeland after disappointment or rejection had already sabotaged domestic careers.
Smith's interviews revealed that just about everyone could name at least one, and maybe even several, African American ballplayers who had the ability to play in the big leagues. (19)
ideas into the North with them." Powers said it was only a matter of time before Blacks were admitted into the big leagues ("Broun and Powers Take a Stand," 1933, Section II, 5).
It didn't take Gausman long to reach the big leagues. Drafted fourth overall last year out of LSU, he debuted with the Orioles 11 months later.
Unfamiliar with the workings of a major league clubhouse in his first big league spring training, Bard thought he had been sent down.
The other problem is the attitude of the player (and perhaps his agent as well): "I have been successful to this point, and now that I'm in the big leagues they want me to change.
By 1995, only Jim Thorpe remained in the big leagues as a tepid trooper awaiting his 50th birthday and an escape to the mulligan tour four years down the road.
For some of these rookies admittance to the big leagues was a long time coming.
It brings you into the fiat-screen full-color big leagues without breaking your pocketbook.
One former STS participant, among a group that includes five Nobel laureates, recalls the finalist competition as his introduction to the "big leagues of science."
The firm's rock bottom stock price indicates that Wall Street is no longer willing to pay for the aggressive, frenzied acquisition strategy that catapulted CHS into the big leagues of PC distribution.
The 6-foot-4 Santana, who has played both the outfield and infield as a professional, is the son of former major league shortstop Rafael Santana, who played all or parts of seven years in the big leagues from 1983-90 for the Cardinals, Mets, Yankees and Indians, and won a World Series title in 1986 as the Mets' everyday shortstop.
It's just neat getting up every morning knowing that I'm coming here, knowing that I'm having a chance to pitch in the big leagues.
Wilson was 23 when he came to big leagues, making his debut as the Opening Day shortstop for the Pirates in 2001.