noun
General Slang
the big smoke
thuh BIG SMOHK · noun · informal
The city.
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Definitions
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A large city, as seen from the country.
“He moved to the big smoke for work.”
by community
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the big smoke In A Sentence
He moved to the big smoke for work.
Origin & Usage
From the smoke of a city's chimneys; 19th-century usage.
Variants
big smoke
People Also Ask
What does 'the big smoke' mean?
The big smoke is an informal name for a large city, especially as talked about by people living in the country or bush.
Where does 'the big smoke' come from?
It dates to the 19th century and refers to the smoke that once billowed from a city's many chimneys and factories, marking it out from the clear country air.
Is 'the big smoke' only used in Australia?
It's very common in Australia but is also used in Britain and elsewhere; in Australia it typically means cities like Sydney or Melbourne as seen from rural areas.
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