Big Ol'
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "big ol'" is an emphatic way to describe something large, often with a playful or exaggerated tone (but not always, it's a common phrase).
Pronunciation
[BIG-ohl]
Meaning & Usage
- Very large (adjective)
Elmer:
Look at that big ol' catfish!
Look at that big ol' catfish!
Estel:
Reckon it’d feed the whole family.
Reckon it’d feed the whole family.- Exaggerated emphasis (adjective)
Elmer:
She gave me a big ol' hug soon as I walked in.
She gave me a big ol' hug soon as I walked in.
Estel:
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.variations: big ol, big ole
★ If someone calls you a "big ol' mess," it’s probably said with a grin. ★
Origin and Etymology
Likely a regional intensifier formed by pairing "big" with a drawn-out "old," used for emphasis rather than literal age. This construction appears in many Southern and Appalachian expressions.
Usage Notes
"Big ol'" often carries warmth or humor, and the drawn-out vowel in "ol" can make it sound even more exaggerated. It’s flexible enough to describe anything from objects to people to ideas.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 4). Big Ol'. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/big-ol
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Big Ol'." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/big-ol.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Big Ol'." HillbillySlang.com. October 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/big-ol.
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