big kahunas
The important ones
Big kahunas refers to testicles, used as slang for courage or boldness: It takes big kahunas to stand up to the boss like that.
The phrase borrows from Hawaiian, where kahuna means a priest or expert—someone important.
The "big" emphasizes size and authority, which transferred to the anatomical metaphor.
Sometimes used to mean important people: the big kahunas in the company.
Workplace superior
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- leaderOne who guides others
- top dogDominant leader
- head honchoChief in charge
kingpin · heavyweight · decision maker · shot caller · alpha · commander · director · executive
boss
Workplace superior
head honcho · kingpin · heavyweight · decision maker · shot caller · alpha · commander · director · executive · mogul
wave
Oscillating motion through medium
Mavericks · tow-in · charger · waterman · hold down · impact zone · gun · heavy water
big kahunasnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
small potatoes · nonentities · lightweights · zeroes · bit players