poohbah
Pompous high muckety-muck
A poohbah is a pompous official or someone who holds multiple positions of authority—often with the implication that the titles outweigh the actual importance.
The term comes from a character in Gilbert and Sullivan's *The Mikado* who held numerous grandiose offices simultaneously.
It's usually mildly mocking: The local poohbahs gathered to discuss the zoning changes.
Also spelled poo-bah or Pooh-Bah.
Government administrative official
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- dignitaryPerson of high rank
- bigwigInfluential, important person
- mandarinSmall, loose-skinned citrus
administrator · executive · magistrate · officeholder · incumbent · grandee · muckamuck · nabob
Japanese imperial title
- Gilbert and SullivanVictorian operetta collaborators
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- parodySatirical imitation
- lampoonHarsh public mockery
burlesque · farce · mockery · sendup · travesty · buffoonery · comic opera · operetta
Exaggerating one's own significance
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
condescending · supercilious · pretentious · egotistical · snobbish · lordly · patronizing · domineering
bureaucrat
Government administrative official
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- dignitaryPerson of high rank
- bigwigInfluential, important person
mandarin · administrator · executive · magistrate · officeholder · incumbent · grandee · muckamuck · nabob · panjandrum
Mikado
Japanese imperial title
- Gilbert and SullivanVictorian operetta collaborators
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- parodySatirical imitation
lampoon · burlesque · farce · mockery · sendup · travesty · buffoonery · comic opera · operetta · satire
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
arrogant · condescending · supercilious · pretentious · egotistical · snobbish · lordly · patronizing · domineering · highfalutin
poohbahnonentity
Unimportant person or thing
cipher · figurehead · puppet · bit player · small potato