bigwig
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
First arose in the 1730s, from big + wig. Formerly, English men of authority wore wigs. Bigwig plays on the idea that higher authority is denoted by a larger wig.
Noun
bigwig (plural bigwigs)
- (humorous) A person of importance to a group or organization.
- The company bigwig is gathering his staff together for a meeting today.
- 2016 May 5, “Reality star Bethenny Frankel talks hats, hangovers and her Kentucky Derby party at Empire City Casino”, in New York Daily News:
- Before her hay-day, she attended many derbys under her dad's celebrity where she'd hobnob with the bigwigs in Millionaire's Row.
Synonyms
- big cheese, big enchilada, big kahuna, big wheel, grand poobah, head honcho, kingpin, muckety muck, top banana, top dog, VIP
Translations
A person of importance
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