a big client

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big client" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a significant or important customer in a business context. Example: "Our agency has recently secured a big client, which will greatly enhance our portfolio."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He recently lost a big client to a large firm.

The New York Times

"The U.K. Film Council used to be a big client; they've been abolished," she said.

The New York Times

Musa was not a big client or someone he knew that well.

The New Yorker

He's a big client and I don't want to blow it".

The New York Times

A delegation from America's navy, a big client, sat down in Sun's Silicon Valley offices.

The Economist

He hopes his status as a big client will assure additional deliveries.

The New York Times

With such a big client list, Mr. Ostrowski had his share of customer complaints.

The New York Times

"A big client is god," said one former employee of Ernst & Young in Moscow.

The New York Times

Mr. Berrien knew Sir Martin before joining Forbes, when he worked for American Express, a big client of Ogilvy.

The New York Times

If a businessman has a big client, he'll pay for him to get a couple of lap dances.

The New York Times

MetroPCS was a big client of Mr. Northrop and Mr. Lazarus, and they would sometimes run into conflicts because Paul Hastings represented AT&T.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "a big client", consider the specific context. If the client is significant due to their revenue contribution, "key client" might be more accurate. If their brand is well-known, "high-profile client" could be a better fit.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the client's impact. If the client is not genuinely significant, using the phrase "a big client" could appear disingenuous or misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big client" functions as a noun phrase, where "big" modifies the noun "client". It serves to identify a customer of considerable importance, size, or value to a business. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a big client" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a customer who is significant to a business. As evidenced by the numerous examples in Ludwig, it's frequently used in news and business contexts. Consider using more specific alternatives like "key client" or "high-profile client" depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize. While generally appropriate, avoid exaggerating the importance of a client if they aren't truly substantial. Ludwig AI confirms the proper usage of this phrase in a wide range of professional communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key client

Emphasizes the importance of the client to the business's success.

a major client

Highlights the substantial size or impact of the client.

an important client

Stresses the value and significance of the client relationship.

a significant client

Similar to "important", emphasizing the client's notable impact.

a large client

Focuses on the scale or size of the client's business.

a substantial client

Suggests the client provides considerable business volume.

a valuable client

Highlights the economic worth of the client to the company.

a high-profile client

Emphasizes the client's public recognition or status.

a prestigious client

Implies the client enhances the company's reputation.

a cornerstone client

Suggests the client is fundamental to the company's stability and success.

FAQs

How can I use "a big client" in a sentence?

You can use "a big client" to refer to a significant customer, as in: "Landing "a big client" significantly boosted our quarterly revenue."

What's a more formal way to say "a big client"?

More formal alternatives to "a big client" include "a key client" or "a major client", which convey importance and impact.

What can I say instead of "a big client" if I want to emphasize prestige?

If you want to highlight prestige, you might use "a high-profile client" or "a prestigious client".

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "a big client"?

It's best to avoid using "a big client" if the client's impact is minimal or if exaggerating their importance would be misleading.