looms large
Casts imposing shadow
Looms large describes something that dominates attention or seems imposingly significant.
The image comes from weaving looms—large, ever-present fixtures in textile households—combined with the verb loom meaning to appear threateningly or impressively.
A deadline looms large as it approaches.
An unsolved problem looms large in someone's mind.
The phrase suggests something impossible to ignore.
- overshadowingDominating by comparison
- stands outIs notably conspicuous
- hangs overSuspends from above
- significanceQuality of mattering
- elephant in the roomObvious ignored problem
foreboding · towering · centrality · front and center · pervasive · engulfing · dominance · gravity · salience · magnitude · encroaching · weight · overhanging · dark cloud · influence · specter · on the horizon · rises above