idiom · informal

hit the big time

/hɪt ðə ˈbɪɡtaɪm/HIT·the·BIG·time

speaking

to become very successful or famous, especially suddenly

Examples

After his third novel sold millions, he really hit the big time.

Many local bands never hit the big time, but they build loyal followings.

She hoped her short film would help her hit the big time.

Band 8 sentence

After years of small gigs and rejections, her breakthrough single hit the big time and she was booking arenas within months.

Collocations

  • finally hit the big time
  • hope to hit the big time

Word family

hit the big time verb phrasehitting the big time verb (gerund)

Common mistakes

hit big timehit the big time

to hit a big timeto hit the big time

I hope to hit the big time next month in my essayI hope to hit the big time next month with my exhibition

Say it for a higher band

5become famous6make it big7+hit the big time

Synonyms

become famous

make it big

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