What it means
The big cheese is the top dog, the boss with the final say and the power to make things happen. You might use it at work, in politics, or just for whoever’s running the show. It’s slightly cheeky, a bit old-school, and often said with a grin when you’re pointing out who really calls the shots.
Usage examples
"I tried to argue about the budget, but the big cheese walked in, gave one nod, and suddenly everyone changed their tune."
"She started in the post room and now she's the big cheese running the whole place."
"Don't bother pitching it to me, mate, I'm not the big cheese round here."
"We all thought Dave was in charge till the big cheese turned up and parked himself at the head of the table."
"You'll need the big cheese to sign that off, I'm just here pushing the paperwork uphill."
Where it comes from
This one goes way back in American English to the early 1900s. The usual trail leads to chiz or cheez, a borrowed word from Urdu or Persian meaning thing or stuff, which showed up in phrases like the real chiz. English then bent it into cheese, and the big cheese became the important person in the room.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
