Meaning of "big"

[All Potted Out]

"...nights in Isanbul became as dark as in those distant small towns where they're big on their religion and their graveyard."

What does "big on their religion" mean?

[Yankee]

[Pond969]

I agree with Yankee but I would also add that this phrase is very often, although not exclusively, used in a perjorative way, suggesting that those who 'are big on something' are enthusiastic about it to an excessive or unhealthy degree.

[Alan]

Hi,

I feel 'big on' suggests 'expert in' doing something on a large scale' but I can't see the perjorative element.

A
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[Conchita]

Gentlemen, is 'perjorative' an alternative spelling for 'pejorative'? The same typo twice in a row makes you wonder.

[Pond969]

Alan ... How about the following:

"She's big on finding fault with others."

The sentence doesn't suggest that the woman in question has any particular expertise in what she does (although it would suggest doing it on 'a large scale'). Describing someone that way would, I'd say, be unflattering (thus pejorative).

Again. as I said in my first post, the phrase is not exclusively used in a pejorative way.

Oh... Conchita. I didn't make a typo. I misspelled the word. I just checked and, apparently, the word is so frequently misspelled that the OED has an entry on the issue.

[Alan]

Hi Conchita,

I could say I was misled by Brother Pond but that won't wash, will it. So again, please Miss it is my fault and I would ask you to pass me a dollop of humble pie.

Creepingly

A
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