Idioms

a big kahuna

big kahuna

The most important or powerful person in a group, organization, business, or movement (e.g., the boss, leader, etc.). Primarily heard in US. I think it sounds like a great idea, but you'll have to ask the big kahuna first. He's the big kahuna of the recording industry—no one wields more influence than him. I'm the big kahuna around here, so you have to do what I say.
See also: big, kahuna
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a big kahuna

or

a grand kahuna

AMERICAN, INFORMAL
A big kahuna is a very important person in an organization. Suncorp Metway big kahuna Steve Jones may be thinking twice about his plans to start a business in North Queensland. Note: The word `kahuna' is from Hawaiian and means `wise man'.
See also: big, kahuna
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
See also:
References in periodicals archive
The case really can't be overstated - Exposed is a once-in-a-lifetime slice of awfulness, a Big Kahuna Burger of badness that may actually topple 2000's Battlefield Earth as the worst film of the millennium.
EXPOSED [...]
The case really can't be overstated - Exposed is a once-in-alifetime slice of awfulness, a Big Kahuna Burger of badness that may actually topple 2000's Battlefield Earth as the worst film of the millennium.
EXPOSED; Movies
Craig is now planning a Big Kahuna Street Food Market to take place from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, July 26, at Nelson Mandela Corner behind the library in Huddersfield town centre with a range of huts sellinga wide variety of hot food.
Craig proves a bright spark!
Take Calpers -- the California Public Employees' Retirement System -- a big kahuna with $172 billion in assets and holdings in more than 1,700 public companies.
Big pension fund weighs in on reform. (Business Briefs)
He tried a Big Kahuna last week but had to quit three-quarters of the way through.
I meat my match in a 205oz steak
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