top banana

US/ˌtɑp bəˈnænə/UK/ˌtɒp bəˈnɑːnə/

noun

The boss, the leader.

“Only the top banana can make a decision of that magnitude.”

Similar
big cheesebaronbig enchiladabig gunbig kahunabig manbig namebig noise
Opposite
second banana
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Meanings

nountop banana (plural top bananas)

plural top bananas

  1. colloquialidiomaticThe boss, the leader.

    Only the top banana can make a decision of that magnitude.

    Synonyms: big cheese, baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big man, big name

  2. colloquialdatedidiomaticThe principal comedian in a vaudeville or burlesque show.

    He was hilarious, and remained the top banana on the tour for years.

    Antonyms: second banana

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe boss, the leader.

Similar
big cheesebaronbig cheesebig enchiladabig gunbig kahunabig manbig namebig noisebig shotbigwigbig wheelbossgrand poobahhead honchoheavy hitterheavyweighthigh muckamuckhigh muckety-muckking of all one surveys

nounThe principal comedian in a vaudeville or burlesque show.

Opposite
second banana

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe most important person in a group or undertaking

Similar
kingpinbigwig
Broader
important personinfluential personpersonage
Also see
big kahunabigwigchieftainkingpin

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

top banana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20banana

MLA

“top banana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20banana. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “top banana,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20banana.

Source: top banana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.