Where "Big Note Yourself" Comes From
"Big note" originally referred to a large-denomination banknote — flashing one around was an obvious way to show off. An early recorded use appears in a 1941 Courier-Mail article describing someone producing something to "big note" himself in the eyes of the young. The phrase captures the specific kind of self-promotion that involves inflating one's own importance the way a big note inflates a wallet.
"Big-noting" works as both noun and verb — someone can be described as a big-noter, or caught big-noting themselves at a party. It has a distinctively Australian edge: Australia's cultural bias against the tall poppy makes big-noting especially unforgivable, since the people least likely to tolerate it are those who've spent a lifetime around people who don't.
Source: Australian National Dictionary Centre — Meanings and origins of Australian words
"He was big-noting himself at the pub about a promotion that hasn't even happened yet."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's almost always used critically — calling someone out for exaggerating their wealth, success, or importance to look good in front of others.
You'll often hear it about someone throwing cash around, name-dropping, or talking themselves up at a pub or party.
The "-ing" form, "big-noting", is used the same way, as in "he was big-noting himself at the pub".
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