Big Daddy Definition & Meaning

American

Idioms

Etymology

Examples

big daddy American

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. a man regarded as the paternalistic head of a family.

2. the founder or a leading member of a company, organization, movement, etc..

   the big daddy of soil conservation.

3. the federal government.

   to thank big daddy for the tax cut.

4. Chiefly Southern U.S. grandfather.

big daddy Idioms

1. An influential man, a big shot (see under big cheese ), as in You'll have to get permission from big daddy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

2. A male sweetheart or friend, often a man considerably older than his female companion; a sugar daddy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

3. Grandfather. This usage originated in the South among African-Americans.

4. The largest or most important person or thing of its kind. For example, The United States has long been the big daddy of the Western Hemisphere , or The blue whale was the big daddy of the ocean . [ Slang ; 1960s]

Etymology

Origin of big daddy

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After all, since Dutton is the patriarch of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States, he may as well be the entire region’s big daddy.

From Salon

The whole “Big Daddy” concept — deeply rooted in Southern culture — is essentially about longing for a dominant patriarch, a figure of unquestioned authority who brings order, control and tradition.

From Salon

But this Big Daddy posturing was his central theme.

From Slate

From Tim Dillon, Louis CK, Jimmy Carr and Whitney Cummings to Quentin Tarantino, Big Daddy Kane, Double Soul Shaman, ICP and most recently the Black Keys, the gamut of “YMH” participants has long given viewers another reason to tune in.

From Los Angeles Times

Written by Tennessee Williams in 1955, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof tells the story of a family who have come together to celebrate the birthday of the patriarch, Big Daddy.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.