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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish



 
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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish #1 (permalink) Mon Feb 19, 2007 13:58 pm   Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish
 

guys,

To my knowledge the expression big shot can be negative or positive, for example:

1. There are so many big shots today, I'm a little nervous.(+)
2. He thinks he's such a big shot.(-)

What about big fish?Will it be rude if we refer to somebody as a big fish?For example if we joke around about our own nervousness saying the #1 sentence replacing big shot with big fish like:

'There are so many big fish today,I'm a little nervous'.

How would that sound to a native speaker?Rude?

Thanks.
NinaZara
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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish #2 (permalink) Mon Feb 19, 2007 14:24 pm   Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish
 

.
It's rude if you're calling me or someone I like or admire one. However, if we are both complaining about the same superiors, it's fine. This comment holds for both 'big fish' and 'big shot'-- it is all in who you are saying it to and about. Both are slang which are disrespectful to the VIPs themselves.
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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish #3 (permalink) Mon Feb 19, 2007 14:33 pm   Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish
 

Wow, didn't know that before. Thanks.
NinaZara
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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish #4 (permalink) Mon Feb 19, 2007 21:11 pm   Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish
 

Hey, how about big foot ?

Sorry, I meant Big Foot as it?s a nickname!
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Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish #5 (permalink) Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:01 am   Expressions with big: Big shot, Big fish
 

Hi,

Would you mind if I put my two cents on this? :) Are those 'big something' all originated from 'Big Wig'?

Haihao
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