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Big Kahuna

What Does "Big Kahuna" Mean?

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"Big kahuna" is an English idiom. It means "the most important or powerful person in a group, organization, or area of activity."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "big kahuna" used in a sentence:
  • He's the big kahuna of the surfing community here.
  • To get that project approved, you'll need to talk to the big kahuna.
  • She's the big kahuna in the department; no one makes a move without consulting her.
meaning for big kahuna

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Big Kahuna" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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