big cheese
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. An important, powerful, or influential person: The term "big cheese" is an informal, often slightly humorous idiom referring to a person who holds a high position, has significant authority, or is a major figure in a particular field or organization.
Usage and Examples
The term is used informally to describe someone of importance. It can be used neutrally, humorously, or sometimes with mild sarcasm. * After the merger, she became the big cheese in the entire marketing department. * Don't be nervous about the meeting; the big cheese is actually very friendly. * He walks around the office like he's the big cheese, but he only manages two people.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- The term often implies a level of self-importance or pomposity in the person being described. It is less formal and carries a different tone than synonyms like "executive" or "leader."
- It can be used in a slightly mocking way to downplay someone's perceived self-importance.
- Who does he think he is, the big cheese?
Variants and Related Words
- Bigwig (noun): Another informal term for a very important person.
- Big shot (noun): A synonym with a very similar meaning and informal register.
- Big fish (noun): An idiom with an identical meaning (e.g., "a big fish in a small pond").
- Big kahuna (noun): A more humorous and slang variant.
- Top banana (noun): A slang term for the leader or most important person in a group.
Synonyms
- VIP
- Bigwig
- Big shot
- Big fish
- Head honcho
- Leader
- Boss
- Executive
Related Idioms
- Big fish in a small pond: An important person, but only within a limited or unimportant sphere.
- He was a big fish in a small pond at his old company, but here he's just another manager.
- The cheese stands alone: An idiom (from a children's song) meaning someone is isolated or without allies, often because of their actions or position. This plays on the word "cheese" but has a different meaning.
Noun
- an important influential person
- he thinks he's a big shot
- she's a big deal in local politics
- the Qaeda commander is a very big fish