heap big
Very large, or a whole lot of something.
Updated September 24, 2026
heap big pronunciation
/HEEP big/
Meaning
Old-fashioned comic talk for something oversized or impressive. Somebody might call a new truck a heap big pickup, or say a storm left a heap big mess in the yard. Related Southern "heap" already means a lot ("a heap of folks"), so "heap big" just piles more size on top. It sounds jokey and a little dated now.
How folks use it
- “That was a heap big mess after the creek flooded.”
- “He bought himself a heap big TV for the hunt camp.”
Origin and etymology
Heap meaning "a lot" is old English and common in Southern speech. The fixed phrase "heap big" got popular in 1800s American writing that mocked so-called Indian English (heap big chief). Rural speakers kept using it as playful exaggeration long after that cartoon talk faded.
Frequently asked questions
Is heap big the same as a heap of?
Close cousins. A heap of means a large amount. Heap big usually describes something as really large or impressive.