high-up n.
(orig. US) the boss, the leader, anyone senior to or more powerful than the speaker.
Boy and Girl Tramps of America (1976) 171: Maybe this will show some of those goddam bankers and high-ups something to wake them up. | ||
To War With Whitaker (1994) 113: Maybe military high-ups don’t talk and listen enough to the young. | diary 16 Nov. in||
Final Curtain (1958) 131: Chief Inspector? [...] That’d be one of the high-ups, wouldn’t it? Chief Inspector who? | ||
Und. Nights 96: After a time the high-ups at the Yard got really cross. | ||
Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer’s Assistant (1978) Scene v: Late for work Monday; later for work Tuesday! That’s the good the high-ups is doing him! | ||
Harder They Come 201: They [...] cursed the rich, the ‘high-ups’ of society, and the police. | ||
One Night Out Stealing 79: Marquess? Ain’t that sumpin hoity-toity high up? | ||
End of Free Love 77: We say who needs high-ups when lowers have the boardwalk and arcades with songs? |