# big boys

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/big-boys
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The people or bodies with the most influence and/or power.

## Examples

- Small shops struggle to compete with the big boys.
- If you want to win this contract, you must prepare to negotiate with the big boys in the industry.
- The startup realized that to survive the market shift, it needed to form a strategic alliance with the big boys of the technology sector.

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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.