Phrase guide

head honcho

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The person in charge; the highest-ranking person in an organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • The head honcho is hard to reach because they are too busy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: big man, big enchilada, grand poobah, baron, big cheese, big gun, big kahuna, big name, big noise, big shot, bigwig, big wheel, boss, head honcho, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high muckamuck, high muckety-muck, king of all one surveys, king of the castle, king of the hill, kingpin, macher, mayor, muckamuck, muckety muck, mugwump, numero uno, panjandrum, poobah, rooster, somebody, top banana, top boy, top cat, top dog, top gun, very important person, VIP, wheel

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an important influential person

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he thinks he's a big shot
  • she's a big deal in local politics
  • the Qaeda commander is a very big fish

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: big shot, big gun, big wheel, big cheese, big deal, big enchilada, big fish

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: important person, influential person, personage

Narrower terms: knocker, supremo

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kiho — Person in charge
  • French: patron — Person in charge
  • French: grand chef — Person in charge
  • French: grand manitou — Person in charge
  • Hungarian: főmufti — Person in charge
  • Portuguese: mandachuva — Person in charge
  • Russian: большая ши́шка (bolʹšaja šíška) — Person in charge
  • Spanish: mandamás — Person in charge
  • Spanish: mero mero — Person in charge
  • Spanish: mero mero petatero — Person in charge
  • Spanish: mero mero papas fritas — Person in charge
  • Spanish: mero petatero — Person in charge
  • Swedish: högsta hönset — Person in charge
  • Turkish: kodaman — Person in charge