King-size describes something that's extra large, usually bigger than the standard version. The term comes from beds: a king-size bed is wider than a queen-size bed, giving sleepers much more room to stretch out. A king-size bed is typically 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, compared to a queen at 60 by 80 inches.

The phrase extends beyond bedrooms. You might see king-size candy bars at the store, which contain more chocolate than regular bars. A king-size headache means a really terrible one. When something causes you king-size problems, those problems are bigger and more serious than usual troubles.

The word evokes the idea that kings historically enjoyed the finest and largest of everything, from thrones to bedchambers. Today, calling something king-size is a way of saying it's impressively large, whether that's a good thing (a king-size pizza for your party) or a bad thing (a king-size mess to clean up). The phrase always suggests something noticeably bigger than what most people would consider normal or standard.