top banana
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The most important person in a group or undertaking: The individual who holds the highest rank, authority, or leadership position.
- The leading comedian in a burlesque show: Historically, the principal comedian in a burlesque or vaudeville act.
Usage Examples
Noun (Most Important Person):
- After the merger, she became the top banana at the new corporation.
- In any project, you need to get approval from the top banana.
Noun (Leading Comedian):
- The top banana delivered his punchline to uproarious laughter from the audience.
- He worked for years as a second banana before finally becoming the top banana of the show.
Advanced Usage
- The term is informal and often used in business or organizational contexts to refer to the boss or CEO in a somewhat humorous or irreverent way.
- Everyone was nervous when the top banana decided to sit in on the meeting.
Variants and Related Words
- Second banana (noun): A person who is subordinate to the leader; the supporting comedian in a burlesque show.
- He was content being the second banana, handling the operational details.
Synonyms
- Leader
- Boss
- Head honcho (informal)
- Chief
Related Idioms
- The big cheese: Another informal idiom for the most important person.
- If you have a complaint, you'll have to talk to the big cheese.
Noun
- the most important person in a group or undertaking
- the leading comedian in a burlesque show