kingpin

kingpin

informal The most important or powerful person within an enterprise or organization. Used especially in reference to organized crime. The notorious kingpin controls the illegal drug trade across the entire Eastern Seaboard. He started out selling cheap local newspapers when he was a teen. Now he's the kingpin of a huge global media empire.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kingpin

1. n. a major figure in organized crime. (Underworld. From the term for the front bowling pin in a triangular array of pins.) The drug kingpins are well protected.
2. n. a boss. My uncle is the kingpin in this organization.

pin

1. n. someone’s leg. (Usually plural.) Stand up on your pins and speak your mind.
2. n. an important criminal leader. (From kingpin.) The mob’s getting careless. The cops think they caught the pin this time.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • pin
  • fall
  • babysitter test
  • card
  • carded
  • carding
  • how-d'ye-do
  • flow
  • nummers
References in periodicals archive
'In a similar development, the Badoo menace which has been subdued through the effort of our security agencies and God majorly needs to be investigated as the suspected kingpin is yet to either face the wrath of the law or have his properties back if truly he is not guilty of the allegation levelled against him.
Advisories also were prepared for manufacturers of precursor chemicals for pharmaceuticals, online sales and marketing websites and third-party logistics firms to maintain compliance with the Kingpin Act.
But then, who said it has to be Kingi or Joho who becomes the next regional kingpin? Does it have to be a man?
POWERFUL FORCESLeaders who spoke with the Nation in confidence said the meeting was cancelled after powerful forces warned Mt Kenya MPs and the clergy to call it off as it is tantamount to disrespecting President Kenyatta who is the region's kingpin."Powerful forces are to be blamed for the cancellation of the meeting as clergy and political leaders have been warned against escorting Dr Ruto to Mt Kenya which is Mr Kenyatta's "political bedroom".
Aside from maintaining a private army, the kingpin, the brothers said, paid New People's Army rebels to do some of the dirty work.
Though the matter was reported to Gujar Khan police; yet no action was taken against the international drug racket kingpin and members, something seeking strong attention of Inspector General of Police Amjad Javed Salimi, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar and State Minister on Interior Sheryar Khan Afridi.
Besides Lim, also cleared by the DOJ panel of prosecutors were confessed drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, Lovely Impal, Max Miro, Ruel Malindangan, Jun Pepito and several others known only by their aliases.
"Preliminary investigation shows that the terrorist kingpin hailed from Chinade village, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Brasilia, July 2 (ONA) The Brazilian police have captured a notorious drug kingpin who used plastic surgery to evade capture for almost 30 years, authorities said.
The defence in a trial relating to the gangland killing of four people in Ayia Napa last summer suggested on Tuesday that police deliberately failed to question a suspected Nicosia underworld kingpin who subsequently ended up dead.
However, when a wheel is steering around a titled kingpin axis with a large steering angle, the two assumptions are no longer reasonable.
Not only is he going after kingpin Pablo Escobar's Colombian drug cartel, including his second-in-command Roberto Alcaino, played beautifully by Benjamin Bratt, but also the seemingly respectable bankers who are willing to turn a blind eye to the origins of the money if it means they get a slice of the profits.
AAR Kingpin system for hot dip galvanized upper couplers.
Summary: A kidnap kingpin was reportedly killed in a failed abduction attempt in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, a security source told The Daily Star Wednesday.
The kingpin eluded arrest this time around for about six months. But his Friday capture might not have been a surprise.