A big shot is a person of importance.
This slang use is quite recent, developed within the current century, but it is a lineal descendant of “a big gun,” dating from the middle of the last century, and which in turn sprang from the union of “a great gun the early nineteenth century.
Related Posts
-
What Does the Word “Masse” Mean, How Did the Term Originate, and What Is a Masse Pool Shot?
A "masse" shot in pool is required when a ball is between the cue ball and the one a player is required to hit. To strike the target ball, a spin on the…
-
What does the phrase “a shot in the arm” mean and Where does it come from?
The phrase "a shot in the arm" was derived from the hypodermic injection of a drug administered by a physician for the prevention or cure of a disease or the alleviation of pain.…
-
What Does “Call the Shot” Mean When Someone is in Charge and Where Did the Expression Originate?
"Calling the shots" means being in control or taking responsibility for critical decisions. The expression comes from a form of billiards. In the game of straight pool the person shooting is required to…
-
Where Did the Saying “A Parting Shot” For a Dismissive Final Remark Originate and What Does it Mean?
In 247 B.C., the warriors of the Parthian Empire were such skilled archers on horseback that even Rome couldn't conquer them. They had developed a saddle with a stirrup, which enabled them to…
-
Who invented silencers for firearms and How does a gun silencer silence the shot?
When a thug on TV sneaks up behind his unsuspecting victim, skillfully attaches a silencer to his revolver, and nails him with a few soundless shots, you're watching pure fiction. First, no silencer…
-
What was Mexican American singer Selena’s full name and When was she shot to death?
The Mexican American singer was born Selena Quintanilla Perez. She became a huge star of Tejano music, a subculture that was then little known outside of Texas and the Hispanic American community. On…
