big enchilada

American  

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.

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big enchilada Idioms  

1. see under big cheese.

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Etymology

Origin of big enchilada

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

Example Sentences

He’s been dogged by the notion that he’s somehow too young for the big enchilada.

From Los Angeles Times

This is “the big enchilada” of the legislative package, is how a friendly Republican lawmaker put it.

From Seattle Times

“This bill is the big enchilada,” he said.

From Washington Post

“The official debates are going to be the big enchilada, perhaps more so than for any national debates in our history,” said Frank Graves, president of polling firm Ekos.

From Reuters

“It’s the big enchilada,” said the journalist/developer, liberated from the daily grind of a print media enterprise.

From Washington Post