the big guns

plural noun

informal
: the most powerful people, companies, organizations, etc.
They called in the big guns to deal with the problem.

Examples of the big guns in a Sentence

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The 2025 Academy Awards feels like an apt time to bring out the big guns in regard to style. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025 After another apparent operational pause, one or more of the big guns rolled into action with the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group in eastern Ukraine last month. David Axe, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 Trisha Paytas is calling in the big guns for her Broadway debut! Luke Chinman, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025 Days of Our Lives is continuing to bring in the big guns to help celebrate its 60th Anniversary. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025 Most importantly, the big guns delivered, with the top line completely dominating territorially against tough matchups in Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes and getting rewarded with a fantastic comeback in a 4-3 overtime win. James Mirtle, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025 Dana White and the UFC are bringing out the big guns for the UFC London event on March 22. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024 Colorado’s third pairing needs to push the puck to the offensive end of the ice, winning the minutes against other teams’ depth players while also setting up the big guns in advantageous situations. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 28 Nov. 2024 And then there is the post-Jaws monster movie, where the macho act of pulling out the big guns doesn’t work — as evidenced by Alien, Independence Day, Cloverfield — and the monster has to be tackled by wits alone. David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“The big guns.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20guns. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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