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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

big and large

(1)
The man had a (big/large) smile.

(2)
China is Japan's (biggest/largest) importer.

(3)
Do not make yourself look (bigger/larger) than who you really are.

In each of the above three examples,
Can I use both 'big' and 'large'?
  

Top answer

I think so. They are generally interchangeable except for idiomatic and highly collocated uses. 'Little' often carries a judgemental overtone.

— Mister Micawber

  • I think so.
  • They are generally interchangeable except for idiomatic and highly collocated uses.
  • 'Little' often carries a judgemental overtone.
  • oh, sorry-- you didn't ask about 'little', did you?
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3 Answers
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I think so. They are generally interchangeable except for idiomatic and highly collocated uses.

'Little' often carries a judgemental overtone.

...oh, sorry-- you didn't ask about 'little', did you?
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Mister MicawberI think so. They are generally interchangeable except for idiomatic and highly collocated uses.
'Little' often carries a judgemental overtone.
...oh, sorry-- you didn't ask about 'little', did you?

I didn't ask you about 'little', but I'm curious about the link between 'little' and a judgemental overtone.
Could you giv
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Cf He was a funny little man vs He was a small, humorous man.
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