- top banana
- noun1. the leading comedian in a burlesque show2. the most important person in a group or undertaking• Hypernyms: ↑important person, ↑influential person, ↑personage
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nounEtymology: so called from a burlesque routine involving three comedians in which the one that gets the punch line also gets a banana: the leading comedian in a burlesque show* * *
Slang.1. a leading comedian in musical comedy, burlesque, vaudeville, etc.: For many years he was top banana on the circuit.2. the chief person in a group or undertaking.[1950-55]* * *
top banana (informal)1. The star entertainer in a line-up (esp of comedians)2. The most important person in a group, organization, etc• • •Main Entry: ↑banana————————top banana see under ↑banana• • •Main Entry: ↑top* * *
the most important person in a groupThesaurus: important and powerful person or peoplesynonym* * *
top banana,Slang.1. the leading comedian, as in burlesque: »He is the top banana. He is, indeed, the whole film (New York Times).
2. a leader in any field: »[He] was passed over twice for…promotion and word went round that he would never be top banana (Time).
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informal the most important person in an organization or activity* * *
noun, pl ⋯ -nanas [count]informal : the most important or powerful person in a group or organizationHe's the mob's top banana.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
