large (redirected from given it large)

*big as life (and twice as ugly) and *large as life (and twice as ugly); bigger than life (and twice as ugly)

Cliché a colorful way of saying that a person or a thing appeared, often surprisingly or dramatically, in a particular place. (*Also: as ~.) The little child just stood there as big as life and laughed very hard. I opened the door, and there was Tom as large as life. I came home and found this cat in my chair, as big as life and twice as ugly.

See also: big, life

*large as life

Fig. in person; actually, and sometimes surprisingly, present at a place. (*Also: as ~.) I thought Jack was away, but there he was as large as life. Jean was not expected to appear, but she turned up large as life.

See also: life

*out in large numbers and *out in droves

Fig. in evidence in some large amount. (*Typically: be ~; Come ~.) The sidewalk salesmen are out in droves today. The ants were out in large numbers at the picnic.

See also: number, out

at large 

1. free; uncaptured. (Usually said of criminals not in custody.) At noon, the day after the robbery, the thieves were still at large. There is a murderer at large in the city!

2. in general; according to a general sample. Truck drivers at large don't like the new speed restriction on the highway. Students at large felt that discipline was too strict.

3. representing the whole group rather than its subsections. (Always refers to a special kind of elective office.) He ran for representative at large. She represented shareholders at large on the governing board.

by and large

generally; usually. (Originally a nautical expression.) I find that, by and large, people tend to do what they are told to do. By and large, rosebushes need lots of care.

See also: and

live large

to live in luxury; to spend time in grand style. George loved to live large, dining at fine French restaurants.

See also: live

loom large (on the horizon)

Cliché to be of great importance, especially when referring to an upcoming problem, danger, or threat. The exams were looming large on the horizon. Eviction was looming large when the tenants could not pay their rent.

See also: loom

oceans of someone or something and an ocean of someone or something

a very large amount of something. The naughty student was in oceans of trouble. After a week of vacation, there was an ocean of work to do.

See also: ocean

play a big part (in something) and play a large part (in something)

Fig. to serve as a major part of some situation or event. The incredible amount of duplicative paperwork played a large part in my decision to find employment elsewhere.

See also: big, part, play

rush on something and run on something

a large demand for something. There was a rush on bottled water during the drought. During the hot summer, there was a run on air conditioners.

See also: rush

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as large as life  (British, American & Australian) also as big as life (American)

if you say that someone was somewhere as large as life, you mean that you were surprised to see them there I looked up from my paper and there he was, as large as life, Tim Taylor!

See also: life

be on the [expensive/heavy/large etc.] side

to be a little too expensive, heavy, large etc. It's a really good restaurant - it's on the expensive side, mind. I really like the table but I think it's a bit on the large side for our room.

See also: side

be writ large  (formal)

to be very obvious Anger was writ large in his face.

See also: writ

by and large

generally or mostly The films they show are, by and large, American imports.

See also: and

loom large

if a subject looms large, it causes people to think or worry a lot The threat of unemployment looms large in these people's lives.

See as large as life

See also: loom

writ large  (formal)

if something is another thing writ large, it is a clearer or stronger form of that thing Hollywood is American society writ large.

See also: writ

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at large

1. most of The public at large doesn't take the problem seriously. Related vocabulary: in general

2. not in prison Police arrested one man, but the other suspects in the robbery are still at large.

by and large

mostly or generally for the most part By and large, the people I'm talking about are Internet users. There are a few things that I don't like about my job, but by and large it's just fine.

See also: and

in large part (slightly formal) also in good part

mostly The film's power comes in large part from Epstein's excellent and realistic screenplay.

See also: part

living large

able to pay for and enjoying a very expensive style of living Vacations in the hot spots, a huge apartment in the city, cars, servants - that's my idea of living large!

See also: living

loom large

to be important Car trips loom large in my family's history.

Usage notes: often said of something that causes worry: The threat of tragic events loomed large over a whaling voyage.

See also: loom

writ large (slightly formal)

expressed in a bigger or more obvious way She believed that cultures are just personalities writ large. The genius of the story is that it's about ordinary life writ large.

Usage notes: usually used after a noun, as in the examples

See also: writ