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Synonyms

big kahuna

American  
[big kuh-hoo-nuh] / ˈbɪg kəˈhu nə /

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.

Etymology

Origin of big kahuna

First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at big 1 ( def. ), kahuna ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the big kahuna of consumer deflation is electronics.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2024

Still, there were others: The heart-tugging “CODA” had a great night, winning best supporting actor, best adapted screenplay and the big kahuna, best picture, ending the ceremony on an ebullient note.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 28, 2022

We first meet Charlie Barnes as he realizes he has “the big kahuna of cancers: pancreatic.”

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2021

The Rebate Project, though, is the big kahuna.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2021

Golf's upper echelon is lush with firepower and a compelling argument can be made for a number of players as the current big kahuna.

From Golf Digest • Nov. 6, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.