big dog n. a large bill for services rendered. Editorial Note: Pure speculation, but consider big dog ‘big-bug, big shot’ (HDAS [1833], 1843), as well as dog ‘a bond or promissory note’ (HDAS 1833) and ‘a gambling marker’ (HDAS 1967). (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A mixed-breed dog is sometimes called a bitsa, as in it’s made from “bits of this and bits of that.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “A “Bitsa” Dog is Bits of This and Bits of That of that”” You know, we were talking...
Critters, co-workers, and clothes: What do you call your favorite mixed-breed dog? There are Heinz 57 mutts and Texas brown dogs in the U.S., while in parts of the Caribbean they’re called potcakes and coconut retrievers. Plus, among firefighters...