What is "big shot"

"important person," 1929, American English, from Prohibition-era gangster slang; earlier in the same sense was great shot (1861). Ultimately a reference to large type of gunshot.

alt. 1 (context idiomatic English) A person with a reputation of importance or power. 2 (context idiomatic English) A rare and significant chance to achieve fame or success. n. 1 (context idiomatic English) A person with a reputation of importance or power. 2 (context idiomatic English) A rare and significant chance to achieve fame or success.

n. an important influential person; "he thinks he's a big shot"; "she's a big deal in local politics"; "the Qaeda commander is a very big fish" [syn: big gun, big wheel, big cheese, big deal, big enchilada, big fish, head honcho]

Big Shot may refer to:

"Big Shot" was the second hit single from Billy Joel's 1978 album 52nd Street. The song was released in early-1979, just as his other hit single from that same album, "' My Life", was peaking at #3. It would soon become his second top-twenty hit of 1979, peaking at #14.

The song is superficially about the protagonist mocking a woman with a severe hangover about her intoxicated escapades around town, making numerous social and verbal faux pas while high on alcohol and drugs ("But now you just can't remember / All the things you said / And you're not sure you want to know / I'll give you one hint, honey / You sure did put on a show!") The song makes late 1970s cultural references to such nouveaux riche fads as Elaine's Restaurant and Halston. At one point, Joel said in an interview that the song was actually about himself (that he was the one who "had to be a big shot".)

A rumor that the song was based on a bad date with Bianca Jagger, Mick Jagger's first wife, is not true. In an interview in 2006, Billy Joel said, "I read that the song 'Big Shot' is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger." But in an interview with Howard Stern on November 16, 2010, Joel admitted that the song was written after having dinner with Mick and Bianca Jagger. Joel told Stern that while writing the lyrics to "Big Shot," he was thinking of Mick singing the song to Bianca.

Big Shot is the world's highest amusement ride in terms of overall elevation above ground level. The tower is built atop the high deck of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Big Shot is a pinball machine designed by Ed Krynski and produced by Gottlieb in 1973. It was created as a two player version of their 1973 game, Hot Shot. The table is pool themed and is very popular among skilled players and collectors, because of the skill required to hit all 14 drop targets in the game. 2,900 units were manufactured.