Dictionary

grand fromage en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɹɒn ˈfɹɒmaʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

A literal translation of big cheese into French.

Meanings

1. (humorous) A big cheese; an important person.
   • A CBS executive was sitting in on the meeting. I couldn't remember his name but since the sale of Newsline to CBS a year ago, network grands fromages were becoming a familiar sight around the place. 2004, Bella [Arabella Rosalind Hungerford] Pollen, Hunting Unicorns, London: Pan Books, →ISBN, page 18:
   • The two DJs who I'd seen at that Latics club event turned out to be real grand fromages of the scene, movers, shakers, opinion formers, revered figures. 2003, Stuart Maconie, “Out on the Floor”, in Cider With Roadies, London: Ebury Publishing, →ISBN, page 69:
   • But when all was said and done, I'd absorbed her belief that a woman was far more attractive, feminine, virtuous, and valuable when supporting and empowering the Grand Fromage, rather than being the Grand Fromage. 2008 January, Andrea Joy Cohen, “Uncovering a Girl's Ambition: Belleruth Naparstek, L.I.S.W., B.C.D.”, in A Blessing in Disguise: 39 Life Lessons from Today's Greatest Teachers, trade paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 81:
   • On our next date I tell Him I think he is a big cheese. He laughs and says, "A grand fromage, eh? No, I'm not a grand fromage; I'm what you would call a medium fromage. Something like a Camembert or Époisses." We laugh. 2015 January, Melissa Kite, The Art of Not Having It All: True Stories of Men, Sex, and Other Disasters, 1st US edition, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 163:

Forms

Synonyms

very important person · VIP · grand poobah · poobah · big shot