big enchilada

Sometimes top enchilada

noun

Slang.

1. someone regarded as the most important, influential, or dominant person in an organization.

   The police are hoping to catch the syndicate's big enchilada in the next raid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of big enchilada¹

First recorded in 1970–75; on the pattern of such expressions as big cheese, big wheel, etc.

Idioms and Phrases

see under big cheese.