big brother

1. One's older brother. My big brother said he would help us move the couch. Andrew is Julie's big brother. My dumb big brother is always giving me a noogie for one thing or another—it's so annoying.

2. A shorthand reference to oppressive rule that was popularized by George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In this usage, the phrase is usually capitalized. You have to be careful what you write in an email these days. Big Brother is watching you, after all. The school wants to install cameras to see what we're doing in the dorms? Geez, can you say, "Big Brother is watching you"? The police are always hassling me and my friends. Big Brother needs to get a life!

See also: big, brother

Big brother

the state perceived as a sinister force supervising citizens' lives.

Big brother comes from the slogan Big Brother is watching you in George Orwell's novel 1984.

See also: big, brother

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌBig ˈBrother (is watching you)

a leader, a person in authority or a government that tries to control every aspect of people’s lives: We live in a society where all kinds of information about the individual may be stored on computer. Big Brother, if not actually watching you, can quickly check on you if he wants to.This comes from the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, in which the leader of the government, Big Brother, had total control over people. The slogan ‘Big Brother is watching you’ reminded people that he knew everything they did.

See also: big, brother

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

big brother

1. n. a personification of the totalitarian state. (From George Orwell’s 1984.) Big brother has changed the tax laws again.

2. n. someone who personifies the totalitarian state: the police, parents, teachers. Big brother says the paper is due tomorrow, or else.

See also: big, brother

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References in periodicals archive

Another indicator of the shows' return was when Big Brother narrator Marcus Bentley shared a throw-back video from the recording studio captioning it: "Narrating Big Brother - We will be back!

Rylan Clark-Neal hints at Big Brother return for 20th birthday; Presenter Rylan Clark-Neal has said he wants Big Brother to return in 2020 for its 20th anniversary

Since its maiden edition in 2006, the Big Brother Naija reality TV show has produced some of the country's biggest pop culture influencers and celebrities including Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Gideon Okeke, Katung Aduwak, Bisola Aiyeola, Efe Ejeba and Uriel Oputa and mostly recently Miracle Ikechukwu, Tobi Bakre and Cynthia 'Cee-C' Nwadiora.

Big Brother Naija Returns For 2019, To Hold In Nigeria

Ex-Corrie star Ryan Thomas was crowned winner of the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, which attracted 1.6million viewers but sparked 11,215 complaints from viewers.

BIG Brother could be revived [...]; THE DIARY In association with Got a story? Email: katie.fitzpatrick@trinitymirror.com Phone: 0161 211 2816 Twitter: @CelebManchester See more celebrity pictures, videos and interviews online at: manchestereveningnews.co.uk katie fitzpatrick with all the inside stories

The ex-Emmerdale star then told Big Brother she was upset by the altercation.

Celebrity Big Brother fans complain after Roxanne Pallett accuses Ryan Thomas of punching her; Roxanne said 'that bloody hurt' after the incident while Big Brother issued Ryan with a formal warning

"Big Brother" tells the story of a school teacher, played by Yen, who must rescue one of his students when confronted by his past in the criminal underworld.

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen announces upcoming Taiwan visit

One of the photos posted by the actress is a screenshot of a note that came from Big Brother himself.

Kim Chiu grateful to PBB housemates 'from all batches' who watched 'DOTGA'

Levin Furniture has always admired the great work that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh has done; in this year alone they were able to serve and impact the live of over 1,400 children in the Pittsburgh area.

Levin Furniture and Mattress Makes Year End Donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh

I feel like the royals are the Big Brother equivalent of the real world.

Prince Harry would be the ultimate. Big Brother guest; Big Brother is back with a very British theme. MARION MCMULLEN asks presenters Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal what makes a great BB housemate

Celebrity Big Brother viewers were shocked when remarks he made about bisexual people were aired earlier in the week.

Biggins removed from BB house

Big Brother perceives those who advocate for "good governance", based on genuine political participation and freedom of expression, as enemies conspiring against the state.

Why Egypt's 'Big Brother' came back, more repressive

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The North East has done rather well in Big Brother over the years with one winners and a few other memorable contestants and we won't have long to wait to find out if any one from the region is in this year's series.

When does Big Brother 2015 start on Channel 5? Everything you need to know; The veteran of reality TV shows is about to make its return to our TV screens. Here's our guide to when you'll be able to watch it

London, June 1 ( ANI ): Big Brother UK bosses have, at the last moment replaced the 'small bathtub' with a 'huge' and sexy one to this year's house, according to reports.

Big Brother house features 'huge bathtub' in hope of sex parties

New series CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER BIG BROTHER Thur C5 8pm Big Brother was part of our lives for more than a decade, bringing us antics galore from a host of wacky and weird reality stars.

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