Big ol' teddy bear

GENTLEGIANT

Think of a towering figure known for kindness rather than size, often used to describe someone with a surprisingly soft heart despite their imposing presence.

"Big ol' teddy bear" hints at something large and cuddly, but the answer isn’t literal—it’s a playful term for a kind-hearted, towering person. "Gentle giant" fits because it describes someone physically imposing yet warm and soft-spirited, just like a teddy bear. The clue swaps the usual phrase for a folksy, exaggerated version to nudge solvers toward the two-word answer mashed together.