# 800-pound gorilla

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/800-pound-gorilla
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An entity that dominates its environment.

## Examples

- That company is the 800-pound gorilla in the tech industry.
- In this negotiation, the bank is the 800-pound gorilla.
- Small shops struggle to compete because the local supermarket is an 800-pound gorilla that controls all the prices.
- The social media platform acts like an 800-pound gorilla, forcing every other website to follow its rules if they want to reach new customers.
- Nobody wants to disagree with the lead designer because his massive reputation makes him the 800-pound gorilla in every meeting.
- Even with innovative new products, the startup found it nearly impossible to challenge the 800-pound gorilla that had dominated the market for decades.

## Origin

The phrase has been attested since at least 1971, originating from a riddle concerning the sleeping arrangements of a hypothetical primate. To the question, "Where does an 800-pound gorilla sleep?" the provided answer was, "Anywhere it wants." The idiom entered the English lexicon by way of this exchange, the specific weight of the animal serving as a marker for its relative lack of social or physical constraints.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.