big show

big show (plural big shows)

1. The largest and most prominent performance in a circus.
2. (sports) The major leagues, as compared to minor leagues.
   • 2010, Ted Taylor, The Ultimate Philadelphia Athletics Reference Book 1901-1954, page 70:

     He was thirty-one when he finally made it to the big show, having labored in the minors since 1924.

   • 2011, Robert Montes, White Mexican, page 316:

     These Swedes also had a ticket to the big show of hockey, after their high school careers.

• (highest level in a field): big time, big league, major league