BBB Etymology - The Big Cheese
Sir Henry Yule wrote in his famous Anglo-Indian dictionary Hobson-Jobson (1886): "chīz, 'thing.' For the expression used to be common among Anglo-Indians, e.g., "My new Arab is the real chīz"; "These cheroots are the real chīz," i.e. the real thing."
In early 19th century London the expression 'the real thing' was already widely used and once returnees from India were heard to use 'the real chīz' it is easy to see how the two merged and the unfamiliar foreign word changed into the more recognizable cheese. The phrase then migrated to America and became 'the big cheese', as a term to describe the most important person in a group. Like other similar expressions, big cheese was by no means always complimentary and often had derisive undertones.
In early 19th century London the expression 'the real thing' was already widely used and once returnees from India were heard to use 'the real chīz' it is easy to see how the two merged and the unfamiliar foreign word changed into the more recognizable cheese. The phrase then migrated to America and became 'the big cheese', as a term to describe the most important person in a group. Like other similar expressions, big cheese was by no means always complimentary and often had derisive undertones.
