big picturen.
/bɪɡ ˈpɪktʃə/, U.S. /ˌbɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃər/ 1. colloquial. The main film in a cinema programme, a feature film; (more generally) a major, big-budget film.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > type of film > [noun] > feature film
feature film1911
big picture1913
feature1913
feature picture1913
first feature1936
featurette1942
1910 Fitchburg (Mass.) Daily Sentinel 20 Apr. 6/2 This big picture comprises two entire reels of film and is practically half a mile in length, providing an hour of fascinating and realistic entertainment.]
1913 Titusville (Pa.) Herald 19 May 5/4 In this big picture we have one of those rare features that is clean, sweet and wholesome.
1922 A. Zucker in Exhibitors Herald 27 May 55 The big picture, and only the big picture, can make money at the box office.
1966 B. Took & M. Feldman in B. Took & M. Coward Best of ‘Round The Horne’ (2000) 2nd Ser. Programme 5. 92/2 I'm re-making big pictures specially for showing in Israel.
2005 Roanoke (Va.) Times (Nexis) 31 Mar. 2 We're fans of big movies, too, and the Grandin runs first-release big pictures just as diligently as art-house films.
2. Originally U.S. Usually with the. A broad overview of a situation, issue, or problem; a wide perspective or appraisal, esp. regarded as an effective way to identify essential features or evaluate overall aims and strategy.
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1935 B. Wootton Plan or No Plan i. 47 In every economic system deliberate decisions are made by individuals and groups, and the big picture revealed by the statistician and the economist is the aggregated result of these decisions.
1942 in R. A. Griffin School of Citizen Soldier xxvii. 361 What then is strategy?.. The term applies to the big picture; it is used in direction of campaigns, the planning of operations, and the fighting of battles to win wars.
1974 H. L. Foster Ribbin', Jivin', & Playin' Dozens vii. 293 Research and creativity centered on the ‘big picture’ and ignored the educational footsoldier—the classroom teacher, and the many and varied tasks that he has to deal with daily.
1998 Nation 6 Apr. 15/1 Carey's defenders have portrayed him as a big-picture leader who delegates details to others.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1913