big bad

English

Etymology

First coined in 1998 in the episode Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Noun

big bad (plural big bads)

1. A major adversary or antagonist of a piece of fiction.
   • 2017 September 19, Gwilym Mumford, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle review – spy sequel reaches new heights of skyscraping silliness”, in the Guardian‎^[1]:

     Charlie, now menacingly equipped with a bionic arm, is these days in the service of new pantomime big bad, Poppy Adams, played with lysergic glee by Julianne Moore.