Pooh-Bah
Self-important dignitary
A Pooh-Bah is a pompous official who holds multiple positions or wields excessive authority.
The term comes from a character in Gilbert and Sullivan's *The Mikado* who simultaneously holds numerous titles.
It often carries a note of mockery: The company's Pooh-Bah of marketing and communications issued another memo.
Also spelled poobah.
Victorian operetta collaborators
- operettaComic musical theater piece
- VictorianOf a prim era
- librettoOpera's written words
- comic operaHumorous sung theatrical work
Japanese · costume · ensemble · theatrical · performance
Elite Castilian nobleman
- big shotInfluential, powerful person
- muckety-muckInfluential person, often pompous
- bigwigInfluential, important person
- high muckamuckImportant, influential person
VIP · potentate · mogul · nabob · kingpin · top brass · head honcho · big cheese
Exaggerating one's own significance
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
grandiose · bombastic · pompous · supercilious · snobbish · highfalutin · patronizing · vainglorious
Names of creative works
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
- officesProfessional work spaces
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
portfolios · appointments · minister · dignitary · secretary · chancellor · treasurer · commissioner
Gilbert and Sullivan
Victorian operetta collaborators
comic opera · Japanese · costume · ensemble · theatrical · performance
grandee
Elite Castilian nobleman
- big shotInfluential, powerful person
- muckety-muckInfluential person, often pompous
- bigwigInfluential, important person
high muckamuck · VIP · potentate · mogul · nabob · kingpin · top brass · head honcho · big cheese · big wheel
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
pretentious · grandiose · bombastic · pompous · supercilious · snobbish · highfalutin · patronizing · vainglorious · puffed-up
titles
Names of creative works
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
- officesProfessional work spaces
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
functionary · portfolios · appointments · minister · dignitary · secretary · chancellor · treasurer · commissioner · magistrate
caricature
Exaggerated comic depiction
send-up · burlesque · ridicule · irony · pomposity · corruption · nepotism · cronyism · hypocrisy · sycophancy
- Gilbert and SullivanW.S. Gilbert, Gilbert, Sullivan, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore
Pooh-Bahunderling
Person of lower rank
subordinate · minion · peon · lackey · humble servant
Pooh-Bahnobody
Inconsequential person
nonentity · cipher · little guy · common man · man in the street