Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
big picture

big picture

Date: Apr 30 2009

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“I just try not to look too far in the future. It gets terrifying if you look at the big picture.”

-Reese Witherspoon, talking about her lovelife. (Us Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

all factors and consequences, the long range future

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

What kind of a picture could terrify Reese Witherspoon? She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’d get scared easily. That big picture must really be huge and scary.

Actually, when people talk about the big picture, they don’t mean a large photograph or painting. They’re referring to a complete situation. Often, thinking about the big picture means considering the future, not just the present.

So Reese isn’t talking about a real photograph. In fact, she’s talking about the situation of being in love. Many people wonder if she and her boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal are going to get married. But Reese would rather focus on the present and just enjoy being in love than worry about the future or think about the big picture.

Sometimes, though, it’s important to consider the big picture. Going to the dentist is no fun. But if you think about the big picture, you’ll realize that if you don’t get your teeth cleaned now, you’ll just end up with more serious problems later. It’s the same with eating healthy foods. Of course you’d rather eat cake than carrots! But you don’t want the big picture to turn into a picture of big you. So maybe the carrots are the better choice.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“Sure you don’t feel well today, but if you look at the big picture, you’re very healthy nowadays.”

“Even though college is expensive, when you consider the big picture, it’s a good idea to go. “

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

VOLTS it shows a complete view of something.
by VOLTSSuper Member!
the plan of the future
by janestudyenglish
talking about future
by soldierkhan
ciberd7 consequences, what my future will turn out or what comes forth
by ciberd7
fate.gh the big picture refer to the situation as a whole.
by fate.gh
Gellerke future, things, that will happen later,in the future
by Gellerke
cheya thinking and expecting a lot about the future forward
by cheya
very far in the time
by monacovalentina
swimfun the complete perspective on a situation or an issue!! it must be used with 'the' to exactly mean that!! E.g: it always makes me get worried to look at the big picture after finishing my exams!!
by swimfun
Tarfah the whole picture or Long-term view of the future maybe :$
by Tarfah
amany7 it is like "in the long run" the very far future :D
by amany7
pary chehr think about any side of a topic
by pary chehr
it means think too much about the future.
by CatherineVanilla
sofree This means a complete understanding of something.
by sofree

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

haniehheo

haniehheo

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i like it…


08:19 PM Nov 19 2013 |

dstroyer05

Turkey

hi

02:20 PM Jun 21 2009 |

kumal

India

it very hard for me my english is elementary.

08:33 AM Jun 21 2009 |

buramo326

Mongolia

from who re you asking this question?

03:53 AM Jun 21 2009 |

kamalayman

Egypt

hi you have sex

01:22 AM Jun 21 2009 |

emre_36

Turkey

ı am ….

 

07:25 PM Jun 20 2009 |

hknyksl

Turkmenistan

the first example tell clearly about the words. sometimes if you pay a lot something but in the fiture it payback to you as big benefit or profit

12:02 PM Jun 19 2009 |

bisto

Rwanda

 you are very kind for tha advises thank u.

 i love

09:07 AM Jun 19 2009 |

feyzanur

Turkey

shes lookin at me coz im gorgeous

02:16 PM Jun 18 2009 |

brijesh pal

India

  hi hw r u 

11:21 AM Jun 18 2009 |

sangdhbkhn2005

Viet Nam

could anyone tell me that big picture is the same meaning with big future????

 

many thanks

09:25 AM Jun 18 2009 |

s id

Saudi Arabia

   i think it `s best slang for me .

  i know it`s hard  for me to learn english quickliy but 

  when i consider the big picture it`s good  for my

   careere

05:54 PM Jun 12 2009 |

namirose

India

hi

 

12:08 PM Jun 12 2009 |

sweet-_-heart

Morocco

if we work hard in the present of course we will succeed in the future

10:26 AM Jun 12 2009 |

609366027

China

I am considering the big picture ! 

 

05:25 AM Jun 11 2009 |

daviddavidt@hotmail.com

Dominican Republic

i think she looking or waiting for someone.

01:58 PM Jun 06 2009 |

t2009

Saudi Arabia

i think  she is waiting for bus and think about his mom

10:24 AM Jun 06 2009 |

Scorpion King

United Arab Emirates

Work for your life same as you will life forever and work for the second life same as yead tomorowou will d

09:19 PM Jun 05 2009 |

ahmet_tg

Cyprus

thanks i learnt a lot of new words

08:59 PM Jun 05 2009 |

Likes (32):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast