big cheese
nounEtymology From big + cheese (“wealth, fame, importance”). Earliest use to mean importance from 1910.
- He’ll be meeting with the big cheese first thing tomorrow, to present his proposal.
- I know. But it's his ship now, his command; he's in charge, he's the boss, the head man, the top dog, the big cheese, the head honcho, number one...1980, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Airplane!, spoken by Rex Kramer (Robert Stack):
1 more example
- If not for all these bills and taxes, our income would more than suffice. I feel like a real big cheese, until everybody takes a slice!1995, “Where The Money Goes”, in Rich Mendoza (music), Money Rock, performed by Schoolhouse Rock!/Jack Sheldon:
- Derived terms
- grand fromage