big kahuna

[ big kuh-hoo-nuh ]

noun

, Slang.

1. the most important or dominant person or thing: Their scholarship program is the industry’s big kahuna.

   He’s the big kahuna of a large travel agency.

   Their scholarship program is the industry’s big kahuna.

Word History and Origins

Origin of big kahuna¹

First recorded in 1955–60; big ¹( def ), kahuna ( def )

Example Sentences

Big Kahuna Burger is a fictional chain of Hawaiian-themed fast food burger joints out in Los Angeles dreamed up by Tarantino.

From The Daily Beast

That Tarantino never opened a real-life Big Kahuna Burger out in L.A. seems like a huge missed opportunity.

From The Daily Beast

Which brings us to The Expendables 3—the big kahuna of boarding.

From The Daily Beast

NBCC president John Freeman made the introduction: “And now to announce the big kahuna…” The crowd hissed.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• character
• leader
• official
• star