big-time operator

big-time operator

A person, company, or organization that is very successful, prominent, and influential in some area of business. Once a small local farm run by Jefferies and his brothers, their berry business is now a big-time operator responsible for supplying the entire Pacific Northwest. These big-time operators have the funds to fight these civil lawsuits, but smaller companies like ours have little choice but to try and settle for an amount we can afford.
See also: operator
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

big-time operator

and BTO
1. n. someone who does business in a big way. (The abbreviation is an initialism.) If you’re such a BTO, why are we standing here in the rain?
2. n. a man who chases women. That twit thinks he’s a big-time operator. A stud he’s not. A big-time operator needs a big-time car!
See also: operator

BTO

verb
See big-time operator
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • BTO
  • operator
  • the biggest frog in the puddle
  • the biggest toad in the puddle
  • biggest frog in the puddle
  • a spent force
  • heavy hitter
  • big wheel
  • a big cheese/wheel
  • a big wheel
References in periodicals archive
It was once run by big-time operator Arriva Buses - with the help of a whopping PS30,000-a-year subsidy from public transport body Centro.
BUS PASSENGERS WARNED: DON'T FEED THE DRIVER!
In January 2013, a police operation conducted to apprehend a big-time operator of an illegal numbers game "jueteng" in Atimonan town in Quezon province, led to a shoot-out that resulted in the killing of 12 people, including a police superintendent, two lower ranking lawmen and a marine sergeant.
Philippine police officers' role in robbery probed
The public can easily deduce the following: One shouldn't necessarily expect a fair, speedy trial for the crime of possessing small amounts of illegal substances, unless one is a big-time operator -- in that case, it's more than likely that a brush with the authorities will result in an agreement to look the other way, in the interest of not stirring up unwanted trouble.
Selective policing
How important is it for him to win and remind Derry people that he is still a big-time operator?
Football: LIFE'S A PITCH; Healy suffered abuse as a Derry manager and Derry player... this isn't another game, it's personal
To be accepted as a big-time operator he had to look the part, which is where wealthy friends helped out.
Undercover in the drug cartel; INSIDE THE BIGGEST TAKE-DOWN IN U.S. HISTORY; Agent Bob Mazur spent five years pretending to some of the scariest men on Earth that he was one of them; EXCLUSIVE
And Strachan will not hold back when he lays out this masterplan which will be spearheaded by another big-time operator from yesteryear, former Celtic and Manchester United striker Brian McClair.
Night a team died was the start of longest funeral march in history of our game..now for resurrection; THE WAY AHEAD SCOTLAND BOSS ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Gordon Strachan sensed the writing was on the wall for Scotland when we were thrashed 5-0 in Portugal and he's determined to put the nation back on track
The 288 used to be run by big-time operator Arriva Buses but is now being operated by minnow West Midlands Special Needs Transport (WMSNT).
COSTLY 'GHOST' BUS ROUTE MAY LIVE YET
Big-time operator: (Clockwise) Yao with Shaquile O'Neal and pop queen Christina Aguilera; towering over Arnie Schwarzenegger and with ex-Rangers idol Jorg Albertz at the Stars v Sars charity game; Hoops upside your head: At; 7ft 5in Yao doesn't have to stretch far to make a slam dunk
Basketball: THE MING DYNASTY; Hoops superstar Yao is set up for life after landing ad deals
At the age of 28, the Scotland star has matured into one of Celtic's big-time operators. Forrest is producing consistently in the pressure matches and after almost a decade of service is one of the club's mostdecorated players in terms of medals.
Forrest guns to break his duck at Ibrox
He also tagged Co as among the big-time operators of a drug den situated inside the said resort.
'Bikoy' surrenders anew over cyber libel raps
This time, it is in connection with the cyber libel filed by a Bicol-based businessman who was among those tagged as big-time operators of illegal drugs in the country in the video series that went viral a few months ago.
Bikoy surrenders anew for cyber libel case filed by Misibis Resort owner
Double Barrel is aimed against big-time operators, protectors and peddlers of illegal drugs, while Tokhang is directed against street pushers and users of illegal drugs.
Groups slam arrest of 3 lawyers in Makati drug den raid
Of course, we also have our share of big-time operators who milked the system for their own personal benefit.
Ricky Razon, Diokno and the PMA
The Easter Road gaffer has watched players wilt under the pressure of playing for the Old Firm and reckons his squad must embrace the opportunities that come with being labelled as big-time operators.
Man Utd of Championship; TARGET PRACTICE HIBEES BOSS KNOWS THEY'RE IN RIVALS' SIGHTS Lennon wants Hibs to think big-time now
Back in LA, he did a stretch in the office of Pereira & Luckman, big-time operators in the aerospace and corporate arena, and another three and half years in Gruen's office, before leaving in 1961 for a stint in Paris with the architect Andre Remondet (successor to Auguste Perret at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts).
Wrap session