the big smoke

the big smoke

A particular large city, used especially in reference to London, England; Dublin, Ireland; Toronto, Canada; or Sydney, Australia. Sometimes capitalized. Primarily heard in Ireland. I've never enjoyed the Big Smoke—the hustle and bustle of London never agreed with my small-town sensibilities. After spending a summer working as an intern up in the big smoke, Daniel decided he wanted to live in Dublin permanently.
See also: big, smoke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the big smoke

or

the Big Smoke

The big smoke is a large city, especially London. He and his wife had long dreamed of leaving the big smoke and spending their days sailing from port to port.
See also: big, smoke
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the big smoke

1 London. British informal 2 any large town. chiefly Australian
See also: big, smoke
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rain stopped play
  • white paper
  • et alibi
  • the leader of the free world
  • founding father
  • founding father (of something)
  • blocking and tackling
  • buck the trend
  • king of kings
  • et seq.
References in periodicals archive
We also thank all participants of the Big Smoke. a 50-year commemoration of the smog.
The Big Smoke The Big Smoke Seminars Sponsored by Cigar Aficionado Magazine Mariott Marquis Hotel (212) 684-4224
AFTER the small matter of derby-day tension, United's travels take them to the Big Smoke and the Emirates Stadium for a relaxing dose of Monday night football.
Theatre Ad Infinitum production, The Big Smoke at Aberystwyth Arts Centre is performed by Canadian actor Amy Nostbakken.
He lives in Liverpool but has been in the Big Smoke charming the pants off her.
The bubbly voice of breakfast radio will be jacking in Cardiff for the big smoke at the end of this year.
The figures echo the findings of a recent internet-based poll of West Midlanders, the Big Smoke Debate, in which 86 per cent of people said they supported a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.
Around 2,000 people from Warwickshire took part in the Big Smoke Debate where views of smokers and non-smokers were received in a poll.
At this rate I wonder could we possibly see city folk and the Honourable Members of Parliament who stay in the Big Smoke during the week perhaps being less critical of how the countryside deals with the same problem?
This milestone event in the history of environmental health will be commemorated at the conference "The Big Smoke: Fifty Years after the 1952 London Smog," cosponsored by the NIEHS along with the Health Effects Institute, the Wellcome Trust, the Greater London Authority, the London borough of Camden, Sypol (a British environmental health and safety consulting group), the Shell Foundation, and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology.
A love story set on the eve of a Dublin Kerry All Ireland Final, it follows a sweet Kerry girl who's moved to the big smoke for her dream job in the VHI and ends up falling head over her heels with a true blue Dublin team member.
There's always an eclectic group people from businessmen to bloggers instagramming the wellpresented food and beautiful crockery and tourists just treating themselves to a slap up breakfast before a busy day of sightseeing in the big smoke.
Before the visit to No10, there was time for a bird's-eye view of the big smoke on the London Eye and a surprise cruise on the Thames, before catching the train home to Glasgow.
They have had a heck of a good run in the big smoke. Time for other parts of the UK to get a look in.
One woman show The Big Smoke will be performed as part of a double bill at the Unity theatre next week during the city's annual Physical Fest.