big leagues
Where pros play
The big leagues are the highest level of professional competition, originally and still especially Major League Baseball.
The term extends to any field where the stakes and standards are highest: She's in the big leagues now.
To reach the big leagues is to have arrived at the top tier of one's profession or pursuit.
Of highest quality
- premierFirst in importance
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- selectCarefully pick from options
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
cream of the crop · A-list · world-class · first-rate · upper echelon · the show · the bigs · elite status
Championship elimination series
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- matchupScheduled competitive pairing
pennant race · World Series · finals · semifinals · standings · division · wildcard · clinch
Involuntary sleep visions
- ambitionsGoals one strives toward
- goalsIntended end results
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- up-and-comingLikely to succeed soon
hopefuls · prospects · breakthrough · making it · call-up · promotion · rising star · farm system
Pro baseball organization
- NBATop-tier American court league
- NFLPro football organization
- NHLPro hockey organization
- franchiseLicensed business operation
stadium · arena · contract · agent · salary cap · roster · free agency · trade deadline
Celebrity status achieved
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- superstarExceptionally famous performer
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- legendUnverified traditional tale
marquee name · headliner · spotlight · high-profile · luminary · household name · megastar · fame
top-tier
Of highest quality
pinnacle · cream of the crop · A-list · world-class · first-rate · upper echelon · the show · the bigs · elite status · inner circle
playoffs
Championship elimination series
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
matchup · pennant race · World Series · finals · semifinals · standings · division · wildcard · clinch · postseason
dreams
Involuntary sleep visions
up-and-coming · hopefuls · prospects · breakthrough · making it · call-up · promotion · rising star · farm system · minor leagues
MLB
Pro baseball organization
franchise · stadium · arena · contract · agent · salary cap · roster · free agency · trade deadline · signing bonus
stardom
Celebrity status achieved
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- superstarExceptionally famous performer
- iconPictorial screen symbol
legend · marquee name · headliner · spotlight · high-profile · luminary · household name · megastar · fame · recognition
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- success idiomshit the jackpot, strike gold, make it, rags to riches, come out on top
- Baseball Slangdinger, heater, K, ribby, tater
- Fame Idiomsin the spotlight, center stage, in the limelight, household name, rising star
- top tierelite, premier, premium, prime, best
- superlativesexcellent, superb, best, outstanding, supreme
big leaguesminor leagues
Professional development tiers
bush league · small time · Double-A · farm system · amateur
big leaguessmall potatoes
Insignificant things or people
bush league · amateur hour · minor league · small time · rinky-dink
big leaguesminor leagues
Professional development tiers
minors · bush league · Double-A · Single-A · farm system
big, league, major league, minor league, big league, big-league