top brass
Those in charge
Top brass refers to the highest-ranking officials in an organization, especially military officers or corporate executives.
The term comes from the brass insignia worn by military officers.
The top brass approved the new strategy.
She's meeting with the top brass tomorrow.
Often used with slight irreverence toward those in power.
Broad statements or commanders
- admiralsSenior naval commanders
- pentagonFive-sided closed figure
- marshalsOrganizes or assembles
- colonelsSenior military officers
brigadiers · commandants · commodores · rear admirals · vice admirals · field marshals · warlords · chiefs of staff
Top corporate officer
- CFOTop corporate money officer
- COOTop operations executive
- C-suiteTop executive positions
- boardroomCorporate decision venue
executives · directors · presidents · vice-presidents · chairpersons · managing directors · senior management · corporate leadership
Ranked authority structure
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- controlAuthority to direct
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- influencePower to affect others
decision-makers · inner circle · ruling elite · powers that be · shot-callers · kingpins · bigwigs · higher-ups
Highest level of hierarchy
- high-rankingHaving superior status
- senior officialsHigh-level government employees
- dignitariesPersons of high rank
- notablesDistinguished persons collectively
VIPs · luminaries · establishment · old guard · insiders · mandarins · grandees · nabobs
generals
Broad statements or commanders
colonels · brigadiers · commandants · commodores · rear admirals · vice admirals · field marshals · warlords · chiefs of staff · high command
CEO
Top corporate officer
boardroom · executives · directors · presidents · vice-presidents · chairpersons · managing directors · senior management · corporate leadership · founders
hierarchy
Ranked authority structure
influence · decision-makers · inner circle · ruling elite · powers that be · shot-callers · kingpins · bigwigs · higher-ups · head honchos
upper echelon
Highest level of hierarchy
- high-rankingHaving superior status
- senior officialsHigh-level government employees
- dignitariesPersons of high rank
notables · VIPs · luminaries · establishment · old guard · insiders · mandarins · grandees · nabobs · pooh-bahs
- hierarchyrank, ranked, authority, command, tiered
- authoritiesrulers, ruler, leaders, leader, officials
- bossesboss, bossman, manager, supervisor, foreman
- dominancedominance, dominant, supremacy, superiority, ascendancy
- ranksrank and file, enlisted ranks, tier one, officer rank, tier two
- military brassgenerals, admirals, colonels, majors, captains
top brassrank and file
Ordinary members collectively
grunts · foot soldiers · underlings · subordinates · peons
top brassnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
little people · small fry · bottom rung · ordinary people · the masses
top brassenlisted men
Military members below officers
privates · troops · infantrymen · enlisted personnel · dogfaces