big cheese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Low frequency; recognised but not commonly produced by learners)Informal, colloquial, sometimes humorous or ironic.
Quick answer
What does “big cheese” mean?
An important, influential, or powerful person, especially within an organisation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An important, influential, or powerful person, especially within an organisation.
Can also be used for the most important, dominant, or influential thing or factor in a particular situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Origin is American (early 20th century), but term is understood and used in both varieties. Perceived as slightly more American in flavour, but not exclusively so.
Connotations
In both, it implies self-importance or pomposity. The humour/ mockery is slightly stronger in British usage, where it can sound more dated.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but likely slightly higher in American English due to its origin. Both varieties now prefer terms like 'big shot', 'bigwig', 'top dog', or simply 'boss'.
Grammar
How to Use “big cheese” in a Sentence
[the] big cheese [of + organisation][be] the big cheese [in + field]big cheese [at + company]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to refer to the CEO or senior management, often with a knowing or irreverent tone. Avoid in reports or official meetings.
Academic
Extremely rare. Would only appear in informal speech between colleagues, not in writing.
Everyday
Used humorously to describe someone in authority (e.g., a parent, a local councillor, a school head).
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big cheese”
- Using it in formal writing or speech.
- Using it without the article 'the' (e.g., 'He is big cheese').
- Pluralising as 'big cheeses' is possible but very rare and stylistically marked.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not typically offensive, but it is informal and can be slightly mocking or humorous. It should not be used to someone's face unless you share a very casual, joking relationship.
Yes, absolutely. While the phrase is not gendered, historically it was used more for men. Today, 'She's the big cheese at the firm' is perfectly correct.
They are very close synonyms. 'Big cheese' sounds slightly older and more quaint. 'Big shot' can sometimes imply more flashy or boastful behaviour, whereas 'big cheese' focuses more on positional authority.
It is understood by most native speakers but is considered somewhat dated. Younger speakers might use terms like 'boss', 'the main one', or 'head honcho'. Its use often signals a playful or ironic tone.
An important, influential, or powerful person, especially within an organisation.
Big cheese is usually informal, colloquial, sometimes humorous or ironic. in register.
Big cheese: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈtʃiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈtʃiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a huge wheel of cheese sitting at the head of a boardroom table. Everyone else is just a cracker. The biggest cheese is the most important one.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (big) + A PERSON IS AN OBJECT/ THING (cheese).
Practice
Quiz
Which context is MOST appropriate for using 'big cheese'?