{"id":4459,"date":"2022-06-09T17:51:12","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T17:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4459"},"modified":"2022-06-09T17:51:12","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T17:51:12","slug":"kahunas-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/kahunas-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Kahunas \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to let someone know they are the big boss? Or maybe you want to tell them they have a fearless attitude? You could use \u201c<em>kahunas<\/em>\u201d to comment on their authority or bravery. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n<h2>Meaning<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The expression \u201c<em>kahunas<\/em>\u201d can refer to someone having \u201c<em>brass balls<\/em>\u201d or a courageous, fearless attitude to approaching life.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The phrase \u201c<em>Big Kahuna<\/em>\u201d refers to an expert in their chosen field or a leader. Historically, it\u2019s used to refer to professionals like Doctors.<\/p>\n<h2>Example Usage<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThat guy has some kahunas on him. I pointed out the hot girl, and he walked right up to her and started chatting away. I could never find the courage to do that, respect to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Big Kahuna is on his way to the office, people. Let\u2019s get things looking ship-shape around here before he arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have a set of brass kahunas on you, man. I can\u2019t believe you managed to pull that off. Weren\u2019t you scared at all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy wife likes to call me \u2018the Big Kahuna\u2019 when alone. It\u2019s her way of telling me that I\u2019m in charge of the household.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe kahunas on you for stepping to me like that. Anyone else would have withered and sulked away. I respect your honesty and bravery. Well done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s the Big Kahuna of the team, and everyone looks to him for leadership. He knows he\u2019s the boss, but he doesn\u2019t throw his weight around and makes people feel valued.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe kahunas on you. That was amazing. I don\u2019t think anyone I know dares to do something like that. Well done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4460\" src=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Kahunas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"182\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4461\" src=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Kahunas2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"182\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Origin<\/h2>\n<p>The expression \"Kahunas\" originates from the saying \"the Big Kahuna.\" The Kahuna is the leader of a Hawaiian tribe, but it can also refer to anyone of importance or high social standing in your life. An 1886 report by the Hawaiian government defines the word as \"sorcerer or doctor\" in the native Hawaiian language. Hawaiians would use it to describe a priest or navigator.<\/p>\n<p>\"Kahuna\" can also refer to \"god of surfing.\" Traditionally, the big Kahuna is an expert in canoe building, farming, and many other practical skills. The community may call on the big Kahuna for blessings and officiate wedding ceremonies.<\/p>\n<p>The word \"Kahunas\" has disputed origins. However, language experts believe the saying comes from the fearless attitude of The Big Kahuna. Westerners would change the meaning of \"Kahunas\" to mean \"balls.\" If you have big kahunas, someone is telling you that you have brass balls or a fearless attitude they respect.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"kahunas\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/58VgldqSt-U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Phrases Similar to Kahunas<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Boss.<\/li>\n<li>Balls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Phrases Opposite to Kahunas<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Low-level employee or citizen.<\/li>\n<li>Coward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Kahunas.<\/li>\n<li>The big Kahuna.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Ways People May Say Kahunas Incorrectly<\/h2>\n<p>The \u201cbig kahuna\u201d is someone who is in a position of power. It can refer to women or men holding positions of power in their community or country. For instance, the President of the United States is the Big Kahuna in the G7, and he runs the country.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u201cKahunas\u201d refers to \u201cballs,\u201d or bravery. You can use the phrase to describe a man or woman\u2019s fearless attitude to life. However, some women might take offense to you using the term.<\/p>\n<h2>Acceptable Ways to Phrase Kahunas<\/h2>\n<p>You can use the word \u201ckahuna\u201d when referring to the boss or the \u201cbig cheese.\u201d It\u2019s a way of designating someone as the leader and who you should follow. You can use the phrase \u201ckahunas\u201d when referring to someone with \u201cbig balls\u201d or a fearless attitude to life.<\/p>\n<p>The expression \u201cThe Big Kahuna\u201d can apply to social and professional situations. You could call the boss the \u201cBig Kahuna.\u201d Or you could call your son the \u201cBig Kahuna,\u201d who needs to watch the house while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n<p>You can use \u201cKahunas\u201d in social and work situations. You could say your friend has \u201ckahunas\u201d for approaching a pretty girl he doesn\u2019t know. You could say your colleague has \u201ckahunas\u201d if they convince the boss to give them a raise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-2\">Do you want to let someone know they are the big boss? Or maybe you want to tell them they have a fearless attitude? You could use \u201ckahunas\u201d to comment on their authority or bravery. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression \u201ckahunas\u201d can refer to someone having \u201cbrass [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4459"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4459"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4505,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4459\/revisions\/4505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}