big guyn.
/ˈbɪɡ ˌɡʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈˌbɪɡ ˈɡaɪ/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
1. As a familiar or affectionate form of address to a man or boy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [noun] > as a form of address
lordOE
wye1340
gentleman1534
old fellow1567
gaff1573
godhood1586
gaffer1590
dad1605
daddy1681
hearty1735
cock-of-wax1790
governor1819
bub1839
smarty1847
doc1870
guy1876
Sunny Jim1903
big guy1910
chief1927
daddy-o1944
pops1944
tosh1954
Sonny Jim1960
ese1961
majita1963
G1990
mi'jito1990
1910 N.Y. Times 28 Jan. 1/2 Hey, big guy, give us a match!
1984 J. McInerney Bright Lights, Big City 87 I know all about wet, big guy.
2001 W. Ferguson Generica xxxvi. 195 New day, fresh start. What do you say, big guy?
2. Chiefly with the. A boss or leader; a powerful, wealthy, or prominent person. Frequently in figurative context, denoting such people as a class.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > one who is in charge
gaffera1658
old man1668
governor1783
head woman1799
boss1806
oyakata1818
guv'nor1843
head-worker1846
jossc1860
Guv1861
Maluka1905
big guy1921
skip1921
kingfish1930
boss-man1934
pitch-and-toss1942
honcho1945
head honcho1952
1921 H. C. Witwer Leather Pushers 13 In about a year or two, if he's still steppin' out, we'll go after the Big Guy.
1952 C. D. Macdougall Understanding Public Opinion xv. 597 They are both for..human rights ahead of property rights, the best interests of the little fellow as paramount to those of the big guy.
1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 30 Aug. f5 The do-it-yourself system..was created to give the little guy a chance against the big guy.
1998 Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) 24 Jan. a7/3 Assistants to the president had to make an appointment..before speaking with the Big Guy.
2000 Economist (Electronic ed.) 19 Mar. 6 Being the big guy in the bush is better than being a badly paid politician in Bogota.
3. With the. God. Also more fully the big guy upstairs, the big guy in the sky.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun]
the Most HigheOE
highesteOE
alwaldendOE
drightinOE
godOE
King of kingsOE
heavenOE
lordOE
sky?1518
gossea1556
beingc1600
deity1647
Master of the Universe1765
Morimo1824
Molimo1861
Gawd1877
big guy1925
Modimo1958
1925 Amer. Mercury Oct. 145/1 The Big Guy had called his name.
1943 E. G. Weber Let. 17 Jan. in H. E. Maule Bk. War Lett. (1943) 29 The Big Guy is on our side.
1970 Chicago Tribune 18 Apr. ii. 3/1 So long, Rip. I'm certain that the Big Guy Upstairs greeted you with a Hall of Fame plaque.
1990 Toronto Star (Nexis) 21 Oct. g1 The big guy in the sky must have this all worked out.
2006 Nuts 11 Aug. 15/1 Whereas the Big Guy may be slacking off, the people of Dubai are producing 300 man-made pieces of land.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1910