big enchilada

American  

Sometimes top enchilada

noun

Slang.

1. someone regarded as the most important, influential, or dominant person in an organization.

   The police are hoping to catch the syndicate's big enchilada in the next raid.

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big enchilada Idioms  

1. see under big cheese.

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Etymology

Origin of big enchilada

First recorded in 1970–75; on the pattern of such expressions as big cheese, big wheel, etc.

Example Sentences

He’s been dogged by the notion that he’s somehow too young for the big enchilada.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2025

“California is the big enchilada, so to speak,” Sanders said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2016

"That of course would be the big enchilada," said former U.S.

From Reuters • Oct. 2, 2011

And before the year is out, a Danvers, Mass., biotech company called Abiomed expects to achieve what Harvard surgeon Gus Vlahakes dubs the "big enchilada in heart disease"--a completely implantable grapefruit-size artificial heart.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hustling through the throng comes the big enchilada himself: Brademas.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman