big fish

noun

1. an important or powerful person

2. the most important or powerful person in a small group

Example Sentences

García Luna was a big fish ready to be fried in Brooklyn.

From Los Angeles Times

"They physically cannot swallow large objects like kayaks, tires, or even big fish like tuna," he said.

From BBC

Later, Gallagher mentioned a police officer who had remarked earlier that day that not going after shoplifters made it “tougher to go after the big fish, the bigger criminals.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yet for 101 minutes, the big fish and the minnows were even.

From Los Angeles Times

He probably had to leave Arsenal to go to a smaller pond and be that big fish.

From BBC

Related Words

• bigwig 
• dignitary 
• heavyweight 
• mogul