poo bah
Self-important authority figure
Poo-bah (also pooh-bah or poobah) is a person who holds multiple offices or positions of authority, or more broadly, any pompous official who takes themselves too seriously.
The term comes from a character in Gilbert and Sullivan's *The Mikado* who held numerous grandiose titles simultaneously.
The local poo-bah controlled the zoning board, the chamber of commerce, and the school committee.
Influential, important person
- muckamuckPowerful, influential figure
- high muckamuckImportant, influential person
- VIPNotable, for short
- big shotInfluential, powerful person
big cheese · kingpin · honcho · nabob · mogul · magnate · tycoon · top brass
Minor administrative worker
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
- administratorPerson who manages operations
- office-holderPerson holding a position
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
ceremonial · figurehead · dignitary · official · magistrate · mandarin · apparatchik
Exaggerated sense of importance
- self-importanceExaggerated sense of significance
- blusterLoud, empty boasting
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
pretension · bombast · stuffed shirt · windbag · bloviator · Gilbert and Sullivan · Mikado · comic opera
Exaggerating one's own significance
- puffed-upExcessively self-important
- inflatedExpanded with gas
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
haughty · imperious · lordly · condescending · patronizing · snobbish · supercilious · arrogant
bigwig
Influential, important person
- muckamuckPowerful, influential figure
- high muckamuckImportant, influential person
- VIPNotable, for short
big shot · big cheese · kingpin · honcho · nabob · mogul · magnate · tycoon · top brass · head honcho
functionary
Minor administrative worker
- bureaucratGovernment administrative official
- administratorPerson who manages operations
- office-holderPerson holding a position
sinecure · ceremonial · figurehead · dignitary · official · magistrate · mandarin · apparatchik
pomposity
Exaggerated sense of importance
- self-importanceExaggerated sense of significance
- blusterLoud, empty boasting
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
grandstanding · pretension · bombast · stuffed shirt · windbag · bloviator · Gilbert and Sullivan · Mikado · comic opera · mockery
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- puffed-upExcessively self-important
- inflatedExpanded with gas
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
pretentious · haughty · imperious · lordly · condescending · patronizing · snobbish · supercilious · arrogant · vainglorious
poo bahnonentity
Unimportant person or thing
powerless · figurehead · cipher · puppet · lightweight