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loom

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loom large (on the horizon)

Cliché to be of great importance, especially when referring to an upcoming problem, danger, or threat. The exams were looming large on the horizon. Eviction was looming large when the tenants could not pay their rent.

See also: large, loom

loom out of something

to appear to come out of or penetrate something. A truck suddenly loomed out of the fog and just missed hitting us. A tall building loomed out of the mists.

See also: loom, of, out

loom up

to appear to rise up [from somewhere]; to take form or definition, usually threatening to some degree. A great city loomed up in the distance. It looked threatening in the dusky light. A ghost loomed up, but we paid no attention, since it had to be a joke. The recession loomed up, and the stock market reacted.

See also: loom, up

loom large

to be important Car trips loom large in my family's history.

Usage notes: often said of something that causes worry: The threat of tragic events loomed large over a whaling voyage.

See also: large, loom

loom large

if a subject looms large, it causes people to think or worry a lot The threat of unemployment looms large in these people's lives.

See as large as life

See also: large, loom

loom large

Appear imminent in a threatening, magnified form. For example, The possibility of civil war loomed large on the horizon, or Martha wanted to take it easy for a week, but the bar exam loomed large. This term employs loom in the sense of "come into view," a usage dating from the late 1500s.

See also: large, loom