What do 18th-century wigs and your boss have in common? 10 slang stories

When we look at how English speakers describe the people in charge, we find a colorful catalog of metaphors. Instead of using formal titles like "master" or "director", we have spent centuries inventing funny nicknames to describe the folks at the top. Many of these terms have fascinating histories. Some started on the stage, others in bowling alleys, and some in the courts of the 18th century. Here are 10 of the most famous nicknames used to refer to important people, along with the surprising stories of how they entered our vocabulary.

If you are the "top banana", you are the undisputed leader of an organization. The expression comes straight from the world of American burlesque and vaudeville of the early 20th century.

Comedy acts of the era often featured three performers. The lead comedian, the one who got the spotlight and the biggest laughs, was called the "top banana". The supporting comics were relegated to "second banana" and "third banana". Why a banana? The lead comic’s routine often involved a prop, and in many popular acts, a literal banana was handed over as a reward after a successful punch line.

Today, we associate "kingpin" with the leader of a cartel or a criminal enterprise. However, its origins are associated with sports. The term comes from the game of ninepins (an ancestor of modern bowling), dating back to the early 1800s.

The "kingpin" was the tallest, most central pin in the setup. If you managed to hit the kingpin right, it would knock down all the other pins, securing a perfect game. Because this single pin controlled the fate of all the others, the word naturally entered the English language to describe any highly influential person whose actions control an entire group.

We use "boss" so casually today that it hardly feels like slang, but its rise in American English was actually an act of political rebellion. "Boss" comes from the Dutch word baas, meaning "master".

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch colonists settled in what is now New York. English-speaking workers adopted the word baas as a deliberate alternative to the traditional "master". In a young, democratic America, "master" felt far too servile and feudal. "Boss" allowed workers to acknowledge who was in charge without compromising their personal sense of pride.

When you want to describe the absolute highest authority in a hierarchy, you might call them the "big enchilada". While the culinary term "enchilada" is centuries old, using it to describe a powerful person is a mid-20th-century American political phenomenon.

The term entered the national consciousness during the 1973 Watergate scandal. In secretly recorded White House tapes, John Ehrlichman, an advisor to President Richard Nixon, was heard referring to former Attorney General John Mitchell as "the big enchilada". He meant that Mitchell was the key player, the main target, and the man who held all the cards. The phrase caught on instantly in the media and remained a popular way to describe a dominant leader.

If someone is referred to as the "Big Kahuna", they are the ultimate boss or the expert whose opinion carries the most weight. This term is borrowed directly from the Hawaiian language.

In traditional Hawaiian culture, a kahuna is a respected expert, priest, healer, or master craftsman. When Hawaii became a global surfing destination in the mid-20th century, the term drifted into surf slang. Legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku was often called the "Big Kahuna". By the late 1950s and 60s, Hollywood surf movies exported "Big Kahuna" to the mainland, where it lost its spiritual meaning and became a nickname for any big boss.

In the world of politics and media, calling someone "Bigfoot" has absolutely nothing to do with searching for a mythical creature in the Pacific Northwest. This modern slang originated in American journalism of the late 1970s.

When a high-profile news story breaks in a small town, national news networks will often fly in their most famous journalists. These prominent reporters trump over the local journalists who had been covering the story first, taking over the prime airtime and top billing. Because they leave a huge footprint wherever they go, frustrated local reporters began calling these elite correspondents "Bigfoots".

Calling someone a "bigwig" is one of our oldest insults for a person who thinks they are incredibly important, and it has roots in historical fashion. The expression dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when powdered wigs (periwigs) were the prime style for wealthy people.

Wigs were incredibly expensive to buy and maintain. Naturally, the wealthier and more powerful a person was, the larger and more elaborate their wig would be. Bishops, judges, and aristocrats wore towering mounds of powdered hair on their heads. So, the working-class began referring to these elites as "bigwigs". Although the fashion died out, the insult survived.

To be a "kingfish" is to be an influential, often charismatic leader who dominates a local area or organization. Though the name originally refers to a predatory marine fish, it became a political nickname in the 1930s.

The term is tied to Huey P. Long, the powerful and controversial Governor and Senator of Louisiana. Long adopted the nickname "The Kingfish" himself, taking it from a character on the popular radio show Amos 'n' Andy. Long used the moniker to project a heroic persona to his supporters, becoming a clever tool of political branding.

A "big shot" is someone wealthy and influential. This expression became popular in the United States during the Prohibition era of the 1920s.

The term "big shot" was associated with gang violence. Mobsters who controlled the illegal alcohol trade were the "big shots", meaning they were the ones calling the shots and firing the weapons. Over time, the violent side of the term softened, leaving us with a playful way to describe anyone who holds a ton of influence.

If you are the "top dog", you are the winner, the leader. This idiom can be traced back to 19th-century sports.

In competitive arenas, the competitor that ended up on top of their opponent at the end of a match was crowned the "top dog". The loser, then, was the "underdog". The contrast between these two roles resonated so deeply with the public that both terms migrated into the English language to describe the winners and losers of life, business, and politics.

Today's words

You may be acting "extra" without even knowing! Learn 10 new slang terms

We know it's hard to keep up with the trends all the time. On the streets and in the media, new music, dance moves, hair and clothing styles, apps, or even new flavors are constantly emerging. But also new words. Gen Z people have found original and clever ways to name all kinds of everyday things and situations. If you want to stay up to date with the latest slang, don't miss this article with 10 today's terms and expressions.

What we used to call just a "phase" has taken on a more epic tone and is now called an "era." This slang term describes a period marked by certain behaviors or characteristics that define a person's current situation.

If you are trying to see the world with different eyes and find the bright side in every situation, let's say you are in your "positive era." Do you have a friend who got tired of being told what to do and now speaks her mind without fear? Well, it's clear she has entered her "villain era." And what about that cousin who got his first job recently? Today's teens would say he's in his "independent era." And so we could go on all day. What would you say is your current era?

This term first appeared in the 2000s, but it has successfully re-emerged in recent years, especially on social media.

Have you ever seen someone desperately crying because they dropped a piece of toast? Remember that colleague who wore an overly formal suit to a casual barbecue? Well, you could say they were being "extra."

"Extra" is a slang word used to describe people, behaviors, or situations that are excessive or overdramatic. You know, anything that's just too much. Does anyone in your life come to mind?

When someone takes a bite, and you hear "mmm," it can only mean one thing: the food is delicious. But now there's a new word to express your approval when tasting a dish: "Bussin'"

If you buy some snacks for your nephew and he says, "Yeah, bussin'!" Congratulations, you've made the right choice. "Bussin'" is used to describe anything considered excellent or well done, especially when it's about food and drink.

Next time you want to recommend a restaurant, you can say their desserts are bussin'!

We've all been in love. Especially when we're young, the idea of that elusive crush is always on our minds. In other cases, it's not love but worries that occupy our minds all day long. There are also moments when we can't stop thinking about a book or series we want to return to when we get home.

There is an expression to refer to all those thoughts: they are said to be living "rent-free" in our minds. This witty expression implies that these recurrent ideas emerge without the need for any external stimulus, reason, or effort, and they will probably stay there.

When your outfit, attitude, words, or anything you do goes well and impresses others, you may hear "Slay!"

While confusing at first, this is a slang term for showing approval. When this word appears, it means someone is doing a great job or "killin' it." You've probably read it in the comments under a photo of celebrities "slaying" on a red carpet, or maybe under a video with many likes. Even famous people have adopted the word, helping it become more popular.

Next time you like what you see or hear, you know what expression to use to compliment the person in front of you.

We already have the term to show approval; now it's time for a word that expresses the opposite.

New generations have this term for when something unexpected or unacceptable happens. If someone suddenly changes their attitude toward you and starts being rude, if someone uses a weird word at work, or if that person you've been dating says something a little embarrassing or even offensive, the word you're looking for to describe how you feel is "ick." When something makes you uncomfortable or disgusts you, it's said it "gave you the ick."

Fun fact: The word was added to the dictionary in 2024.

There are people who know how to stand out wherever they go. Whether it's their style, their way of speaking, the confidence they show, or their talent to make great decisions, today's slang has an expression for these people: they are the "main characters."

Have you ever felt that powerful emotion after finally setting boundaries and deciding for yourself? You know those days when you wake up in a great mood and feel extremely confident? Well, in those moments, you are definitely the main character.

Do you recognize that anecdote, song, joke, or expression that only you and your best friend understand and share? While it sounds like a word in some foreign language, "Iykyk" stands for "if you know, you know." This written expression is used as a kind of warning or disclaimer: only a privileged few will understand the information, which is presented in code or as an inside joke.

This term appeared on social media around 2010, and since then, it has become more and more popular. Have you ever read it before?

The word "vibe" is one of the most used terms by young people in their daily conversations as well as in their online chats, and it's used to describe the mood or the energy emanating from a person or even an entire place.

It's all about emotions and sensations. You know that colleague who's always complaining or that person who has a special talent to bring everyone's mood down? Well, you can confidently say they "don't pass the vibe check."

If, on the other hand, someone immediately connects with you or makes you feel great, we would say that they have "good vibes" or they "passed the vibe check."

You're starting to see someone you really like, and it's been several months of dating and romantic messaging. You're on a date night with him or her, and you suddenly see a friend of yours at the same bar. So, the question comes: "Is he/she your boyfriend/girlfriend?" Uncomfortable!

Some connections are difficult to define. But there is a new way to express that: If it is too risky to say that you are in a relationship, you can say you're in a "situationship."

What used to be defined by Facebook's "it's complicated" status can now be described with this new slang term that's perfect for when it's not a formal relationship but also more than just a friendship.