Wednesday, January 21, 2015

wEIRD wORD wEDNESDAY


IDIOMS:  Head Honcho

Example:  You had better do what the Head Honcho tells you to do if you want to keep your job.

Meaning: the person in charge, the chief,boss, leader.

Origin: The Japanese word "hanchu" means 'squad leader'(han=squad, chu=chief). During the Korean War (1950-1953), American soldiers changed the spelling to honcho, and added "head" probably because head honcho made a catchy phrase.  Today a head honcho is the principal of a school, the owner of a business, or anyone in charge.


Source: Scholastic dictionary of idioms: over 600 sayings, phrases and expressions / Marvin Terban. 1996.





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