Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) an exciting, enjoyable time.

1863		O.W. Norton Army Letters (1903) 183: The brigade was flying round, getting into line, drums beating and a big time generally [DA].
1918		Farm Jrnl 42 49/5: Let our country boys and girls interest some of the public-spirited men and women and then whoop things up for a big time.
1920–23		Burrows in Hunter Trail Drivers of Texas (1963) I 120: [I] always had the ‘big time’ when I arrived in good old Santone rigged out with a pair of high-heeled boots and striped breeches.
1932		(con. 1917–19) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 608: Come on, let’s have a big time.
1946		T. Heggen Mister Roberts 8: He’s sitting up there now chortling and having a big time!
1955		‘Blackie’ Audett Rap Sheet 23: Me and Lili hit all the high spots and had ourselves a big time.
2002		D. Shaw ‘Dead Beard’ at www.asstr.org 🌐 ‘You heard what the fork and knife wants,’ I told Dionne. ‘My saucepan handle going all the way up to your derby kelly. Are you ready for the big time, gal?’.

2. (also bigs) success, fame, power; thus hit/make the big time, to achieve success.

1914		Goodwin’s Wkly (Salt Lake City, UT) 25 Apr. 11/2: The big leaguer among the ladies was Mignon Heywood as Elizabeth [...] who was a veritable scream. [...] It would be duck soup for her to sign on the ‘big time’.
1917		Wodehouse ‘Extricating Young Gussie’ Man with Two Left Feet 30: He didn’t suppose he would ever get any lunch again until he landed the big time.
1918		‘Max Brand’ ‘Above the Law’ Coll. Stories (1994) 19: If we hadn’t listened to that piker Delaney, we’d be doing small big-time over the R. and W.!
1947		N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 147: He thought he was on his way to the big time for sure.
1949		F. Brown Dead Ringer 105: She can hit the big time if she wants.
1959		C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 119: Some prints that would be so sensational that I’d make the big time in the papers and magazines.
1960		(con. 1950-1960) R.A. Freeman Dict. Inmate Sl. (Walla Walla, WA) 9: Big-time – the top bracket of criminal operations.
1963		Aus. Women’s Wkly 18 Sept. 15/1: Taylor, a Sydney boy [...] went to America ten years ago to crack the big time .
1974		V.E. Smith Jones Men 161: I thought you said you could handle the big time.
1981		A. Weller Day of the Dog 155: You’re too gutless to try the big time.
1981		S. King Cujo (1982) 64: You got a ways to go before you make the bigs, kid.
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 37: ‘So Gerry’s hit the big time,’ Stranahan said.
1999		Indep. Rev. 16 Oct. 9: I thought I’d hit the big time.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 293: A real, genuine work ethic is the surest route of any to breaking bigtime in the States.
2000		Indep. Rev. 6 Jan. 15: He hit the big time.
2019		C. Hammer Silver [ebook] Poulos rubs his hands together [...] ‘The Supreme Court. Shit, man, that’s the big time’.

3. a form of address, whether or not ironic.

1932		W.R. Burnett Giant Swing 12: Red called to him: ‘Hey, big time, if you’ll wait a minute, you guys’ll hear some real music’.
1953		Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 189: ‘Watch yourself, Big Time!’ She stiff-armed him in the chest.
1969		S. Greenlee Spook who Sat by the Door (1972) 59: Well, big-time, the Man say you can have the car as long as you want it today.
1972		(con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 222: You and me, big-time.
1992		R. Price Clockers 15: Thumper [...] dropped his hand on a six-year-old shoulder: ‘Walk me, Big Time.’.
2001		J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 139: Listen, Big-Time, next week I might be bringing down a couple of bad guys.

4. an important person, esp. in ironic use, or a powerful, impressive thing.

1968		‘Hy Lit’ Hy Lit’s Unbelievable Dict. of Hip Words 4: big time – A put down name for a cat who thinks he is boss, cool and hip but he is really a seed.
1989		(con. 1982–6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 44: He was showing everybody he was Mister Big Time.
1992		T. Williams Crackhouse 73: This is base. This is the big time.