Dictionary

big picture en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/ (General-American)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From a figurative sense of picture meaning "situation." First attested in 1904.

Meanings

1. The totality of a situation.
   • I met an executive from Missouri who turned around a failing plant by sharing information with employees about the company's performance. When the employees understood the big picture, they did even better at their jobs. 1993, Bill Clinton, Presidential Radio Address - 31 July 1993:
   • Having laid out these big-picture figures, the report then begins its analysis of traffic types against route mileage. 2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 46:
   • We need somebody who will overlook the petty details, look at the big picture, decide what is necessary to end the war, make a plan, 1951, US Senate Committee on Armed Services, Military situation in the Far East, page 3089:
   • I do not care whether it is placed or not, if I get my stuff to that ship. Now, it is my job to look at the big picture. 1941, United States House Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Merchant-marine inquiry forwarders: Executive hearings, page 35:
   • In the prewedding whirlwind of bridal showers, dress shopping, and parties, even the most budget savvy bridesmaids can overspend by mistake. Because the events span several months, it can be easy to lose track of the big picture and splurge at each event. 2002, Kate Chynoweth, Neryl Walker, The Bridesmaid Guide:
2. (Ireland, UK, dated) The main film in a double feature.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see big, picture.

Forms

Relateds

bigger fish to fry · gestalt · gist · the forest for the trees · overview · bigger picture

Synonyms

thirty-thousand-foot view (totality of situation) · grand scheme (totality of situation) · bird's-eye view (totality of situation)

Translations (25)

es idea general (totality of a situation) · pl szersza perspektywa (totality of a situation) · es cuadro general (totality of a situation) · es impresión general (totality of a situation) · es visión general (totality of a situation) · ru о́бщая обстано́вка (totality of a situation) · de Gesamtbild (totality of a situation) · tr büyük resim (totality of a situation) · ru о́бщая карти́на (totality of a situation) · fr vue d'ensemble (totality of a situation) · de Gesamteindruck (totality of a situation) · ko 대국 (totality of a situation) · de das große Ganze (totality of a situation) · ru о́бщая ситуа́ция (totality of a situation) · ja 大局 (totality of a situation) · fi kokonaisuus (totality of a situation) · es visión de conjunto (totality of a situation) · tr büyük fotoğraf (totality of a situation) · ru обстано́вка в це́лом (totality of a situation) · cs celkový obraz (totality of a situation) · vi đại cục (totality of a situation) · es panorama general (totality of a situation) · cmn 大局 (totality of a situation) · es perspectiva global (totality of a situation) · pl pełny obraz (totality of a situation)