Assignments3 "large"/"big"

Question: Is there any rule governing the use of "big" and "large"?


I think these two words is extremely alike, so I want to look up the dictionary first.



Large


1 big in size or amount

a large number of people
a large amount of money

EX:Police discovered a large quantity of drugs in the van.
EX:She comes from quite a large family.
EX:The shirt was a bit too large



2 be at large If someone dangerous is at large, they are not in prison.



3 sb/sth at large people or things in general

EX:This group is not representative of the population at large.




Big

1 large in size or amount

EX:Could I try these shoes in a bigger size?
EX:They've got a big house in the country.

INFORMAL You write August with a big (= capital) 'a'.
INFORMAL She's always been a big spender (= She has always spent a lot money).
INFORMAL You're not a very big eater, are you? (= You do not eat a lot).


2 INFORMAL older or more like an adult

EX:Her big (= older) sister/brother told her to go away.
EX:I'm ashamed of you. You're big enough to know better (= at an age where you should know that your behaviour is not acceptable).

3 [before noun] INFORMAL used to add emphasis

EX:He fell for her in a big way (= was greatly attracted to her).


And before making my opinion, let's check these tow word on concordancers

VLC Concordancer

Large often use in "as large as"or "large amount of"and "a large + (n)"

Big often use in " big enough...", " big + (n)"

I discover that " big + (n)"and "a large + (n)" is different meaning. People use " big + (n)" have many meanings , it can be the thing just looks huge or it can explain the meaning not just on the exterior side.Like "big brother",it's not the meaning of the brother is huge,it means older brother.
And "a large + (n)" most of the time use in describe the thing is(looks) huge,or things in a large
quantity.

so,I think "Large"is often use in describe the thing is(looks) huge,or things in a large quantity.Is a exterior word.
And "Big" use in many ways it can be just a exterior meaning,and it also use as the way of pople's thought or feelings.