big stick—a display of force or power:
- Happily the revolution in Paraguay is too far down in South America to arouse the “big stick” in Washington.
big sticks—
1. (Loggers) a forest or trees:
- Felling one of these “big sticks” is a dangerous occupation, says Howard, a lifelong logger.
2. (Austral. sl.) Australian rules football goal posts:
- Hall gathered a loose ball in a goal-line scrap and snapped between the big sticks.