high man on the totem pole
high man on the totem pole
The person (not necessarily a man) with the most experience, authority, and/or influence in a social or corporate hierarchy. Oh, just boss those freshmen around—now that we're seniors, we're the high men on the totem pole! As much as I'd like to change fields, how can I go back to an entry-level job after having been the high man on the totem pole?
See also: high, man, on, pole, totem
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
high man on the totem pole
Fig. the person at the top of the hierarchy; the person in charge of an organization. I don't want to talk to a vice president. I demand to talk to the high man on the totem pole. Who's in charge around here? Who's high man on the totem pole?
See also: high, man, on, pole, totem
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- totem
- low man on the ladder
- low man on the totem pole
- the low man on the totem pole
- the lowest rung on the ladder
- low on the totem pole
- at the bottom of the food chain
- at the top of the food chain
- too many cooks spoil the broth
- too many cooks spoil the stew