0
Mr. Tom Posted 9 years ago
Vocabulary

Hotshot vs Big shot

Hi

Would you say that hotshot and big shot are essentially synonymous and equally common?

He thinks he is a hotshot.

He thinks he is a big shot.

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=hotshot%2Cbig+shot&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Chotshot%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cbig%20shot%3B%2Cc0

Thanks,

Tom

  

Top answer

I associate a "hot shot" with sports, especially racing cars, or a great player in a military or gaming context. They use their brawn. I associate a "big shot" with businessman, especially a wealthy, powerful one.

— AlpheccaStars

  • I associate a "hot shot" with sports, especially racing cars, or a great player in a military or gaming context.
  • They use their brawn.
  • I associate a "big shot" with businessman, especially a wealthy, powerful one.
  • Both are pompous and love to be idolized, but for different reasons.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0

I associate a "hot shot" with sports, especially racing cars, or a great player in a military or gaming context. They use their brawn.

I associate a "big shot" with businessman, especially a wealthy, powerful one.

Both are pompous and love to be idolized, but for different reasons.

0
0

In addition to what A.S. has already said, I'd say most "hotshots" are men who dress in flashy clothes and tend to be boastful about their specialized skills, but a very conservative banker in a a gray suit might be called a big shot in his own hometown.

Historically, both terms have been used exclusively about men so far, but that may change.

CJ

0

Related Questions