the big boys
plural noun
informal
: the most powerful people or companies
He'll have to work pretty hard if he wants to compete with the big boys in the industry.
Examples of the big boys in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Watch the big boys play Take in a professional soccer game at Centreville Bank Stadium, home of the Rhode Island Football Club (rhodeislandfc.com), 11 Tidewater St., Pawtucket.
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Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Cypress, El Dorado, JSerra, Santa Margarita, Mater Dei, Aquinas, La Mirada, Arcadia, Norco, Gahr and Huntington Beach have no fear of taking on the big boys this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Big tech companies are the big boys in DC these days; their lobbying has grown significantly.
—Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Big tech companies are the big boys in DC these days; their lobbying has grown significantly.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the big boys
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Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Cypress, El Dorado, JSerra, Santa Margarita, Mater Dei, Aquinas, La Mirada, Arcadia, Norco, Gahr and Huntington Beach have no fear of taking on the big boys this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Big tech companies are the big boys in DC these days; their lobbying has grown significantly.
—Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Big tech companies are the big boys in DC these days; their lobbying has grown significantly.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the big boys
Cite this Entry
“The big boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20boys. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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