Street
the big house
What does the big house mean?
'The big house' is slang for a large state prison or penitentiary where serious offenders serve long sentences.
"One more conviction and he's headed for the big house."
Origin
American slang; earliest print use dates to an 1891 Ohio newspaper.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'the big house' mean?
It's slang for a large state prison or penitentiary, the kind where serious offenders serve long sentences.
Where does 'the big house' come from?
It's American slang, with the earliest known print use dating to an 1891 Ohio newspaper.
How do you use 'the big house'?
It refers to prison in general: 'One more conviction and he's headed for the big house.'
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