The big picture meaning in English

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Definition

(we have to look at) the big picture: (we have to look at) the whole idea, the issue as a whole idiom

Examples

"Let me talk to you about the big picture."

Exercise 1

Select the TRUE statements from the list below.

There may be more than one correct answer!

Bruno tells Ira that the company's slow growth this quarter is only temporary.

Bruno wants to show Ira a big graphic which will explain the company's problems.

Ira accuses Bruno of falsifying the company's numbers.

Select the TRUE statements from the list below.

There may be more than one correct answer!

Bruno tells Ira that the company's slow growth this quarter is only temporary.

This is a correct statement. Bruno says to Ira, "If you'll just let me explain the reason for our slower growth this quarter, I'm sure you'll see that it's just temporary." In other words, Bruno himself believes that the slow growth is not permanent (i.e. it is temporary).

Bruno wants to show Ira a big graphic which will explain the company's problems.

This is an incorrect statement. Bruno talks about seeing "the big picture", a metaphor which refers to "seeing the entire situation as a whole", or "understanding the global trends". Bruno's expression is figurative; he is not talking about a physical picture or "graphic". Bruno is encouraging Ira to keep Delavigne's slow financial growth in perspective, and to keep in mind that Delavigne's long term goal is to be successful over an extended period of time.

Ira accuses Bruno of falsifying the company's numbers.

This is an incorrect statement. While Ira accuses Bruno of being unable to keep his promises, he never accuses him of falsifying, or making up, numbers. When Bruno defends himself from Ira's accusations, he is insisting that he was never dishonest with the shareholders (and not that he falsified information).

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