800-pound gorilla

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

the biggest, most powerful player in a market, which dominates everything around it

Why this phrase?

From the joke: 'Where does an 800-pound gorilla sit? Anywhere it wants.'

Example

“You're not out-marketing the 800-pound gorilla; you're out-innovating it.”

Dictionary details

Alternate forms

the elephant in the market

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

first-mover advantage Neutral · CEFR C1

the edge a company gains by entering a market before competitors

race to the bottom Neutral · CEFR C1

a competitive spiral that drives prices, quality, or standards lower and lower

sleeping giant Neutral · CEFR C1

a large, powerful player that has not yet fully engaged in a market

winner takes all Neutral · CEFR C1

a market dynamic in which the leading competitor captures nearly all the value

give someone a run for their money Neutral · CEFR B1

to compete nearly as well as a much stronger opponent, forcing them to work hard for victory

deep pockets Informal · CEFR B2

having a great deal of money to spend

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

markdown