high man on the totem pole—(U.S. coll.) smb. who has the most important position in an organization:
- I don’t want to talk to a secretary. I demand to talk to the high man on the totem pole.
high-up man —(coll.) a person of high place or rank:
- A “high-up” man in the International Skating Union previewed serious changes to be considered at the next meeting.
See also: low man / low man on the totem pole; man upstairs / top man.