Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

a big cheese

idiom

/ə bɪg ʧiz/

Definition

an important person or influential figure, often in a specific field or organization.

Examples

After years of hard work, she finally became a big cheese in the advertising industry.
At the conference, he was treated like a big cheese by the attendees.
In his small town, he was considered a big cheese thanks to his successful business.

Meaning

The term refers to someone who holds significant power or authority. It is often used informally to describe someone who is well-regarded or influential.