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

Here’s the big kahuna that has every web admin across the globe on tenterhooks – Google’s major summer core update.

From Search Engine Watch

The big kahuna in climate policy is tackling existing buildings, ones that are already standing with old gas pipelines running through, and desire some kind of retrofit or changes to run all-electric.

From Voice of San Diego

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