big-shot

This term carries a pungent social charge, typically blending admiration for power with a critique of the person's perceived arrogance. It is rarely used as a neutral description; instead, it often implies that the person's importance is exaggerated or that they are overly conscious of their own status. In professional settings, calling someone a big-shot can be a subtle way of mocking their self-importance or signaling that their authority is resented by subordinates. It suggests a persona of flashiness and confidence that may or may not be backed by genuine competence.