King of the Jungle en · NOUN
Etymology
Referring to the lion being one of the top predators in India (alongside the tiger) and the African continent, which were depicted in Western pop culture as jungles.
Meanings
- (idiomatic) The lion, Panthera leo.
-
(figuratively, idiomatic) Someone who dominates some scene, being the leader in their field, the dominant criminal in a region, etc.
He thinks he's King of the Jungle around here? He's got another think coming.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see king, jungle.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings of the Jungle | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
muckety muck · king of the hill · king of beasts · muckamuck · head honcho · mayor · bigwig · grand poobah · baron · top dog · top gun · king of all one surveys · VIP · big gun · big wheel · big enchilada · high muckety-muck · king of the castle · king of the castle · numero uno · big cheese · big kahuna · big name · mugwump · kingpin · somebody · big shot · top banana · top dog · heavyweight · heavy hitter · macher · high muckamuck · panjandrum · boss · rooster · big noise · poobah · top cat · very important person · wheel · top boy · big man · king of the hill