high-muck-a-muck

/'hai,mʌkə'mʌk/

Thân thiện

The high-muck-a-muck struts through the office as if he owns the place.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An arrogant or conceited person of importance: A "high-muck-a-muck" is a person who holds a high position and behaves in a self-important, pompous, or arrogant manner.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • Ever since he got promoted, he acts like a real high-muck-a-muck, refusing to talk to his old colleagues.
  • The party was full of local high-muck-a-mucks, all trying to impress each other.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The term is informal and often used humorously or critically to describe someone whose sense of self-importance is seen as excessive or ridiculous.
• It implies that the person's arrogance is tied directly to their perceived social or official status.

Variants and Related Words

• High muckety-muck (noun): A common variant with the same meaning.
  • Don't mind him; he's just playing the high muckety-muck.
• Muck-a-muck (noun): A shortened, less common form.

Synonyms

• Bigwig: A person of importance or influence.
• Pooh-bah: A person holding many offices or positions, often with a connotation of self-importance.
• Grandee: A high-ranking or noble person, especially in Spain or Portugal.
• Dignitary: A person considered important because of high rank or office.

Idioms and Phrases

• To put on high-muck-a-muck airs: To behave arrogantly or pompously, as if one is very important.
  • She started putting on high-muck-a-muck airs after joining the exclusive club.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an arrogant or conceited person of importance

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pooh-bah