Meaning of big if | Babel Free

Definitions

An unlikely but necessary condition.

Examples

“"If I were only old enough," said Kate, "and knew enough to teach a day-school, I would begin at once and save half of my money …." "Oh!" Edward replied, "there's a big if in the way."”

“2004, Dale Brown, Dreamland: Strike Zone, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 217, "If they believe us," said the admiral, "and that's a big if, then we're in a race with them to find this thing. Because if they grab it—"”

CEFR level