big cheese
[noun]
Synonyms: notable, big boy, big chief, biggie, big gun, big noise, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, VIP

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ˌbig ˈcheese noun [countable] informal
[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cheese probably from Urdu chiz 'thing', from Persian]
an important and powerful person in an organization – used humorously

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

big cheese
[humorous]
an important or powerful person in a group or organization.
Apparently her father is a big cheese in one of the major banks.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

big cheese
• big cheese/gun/wheel
an important person, a leader
The new director was a big wheel in his previous company but he is not so important now.

My uncle is a big cheese in his company so you should be very nice to him.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

big cheese
n., slang An important person; a leader; a high official; a person of high rank.
Bill had been a big shot in high school.
John wanted to be the big cheese in his club.
Compare: WHOLE CHEESE.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲