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heavy hitter

noun

a baseball player who makes many extra-base hits.
a very important or influential person.
the secretary of state and other heavy hitters.

heavy hitter

noun

informal��another term for big hitter

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Other Word Forms

heavy-hitter adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of heavy hitter¹

First recorded in 1975–80

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Idioms and Phrases

An important or influential individual or organization. For example, This publishing house is one of the heavy hitters in the textbook industry. This expression originated in sports such as boxing, where it literally meant “hitting hard,” and was transferred to other enterprises in the mid-1900s.

heavy heart, with a heavy hydrogen

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