king of the castle

Definitions

1. A children's game in which one player is located on something elevated and other players attempt to take his or her place.
   uncountable, usually
2. A person who assumes a position of greater importance, authority, or prominence than others.
   broadly, derogatory, idiomatic, sarcastic, sometimes, uncountable, usually

Examples

“[A] throng of children came pouring from school. […] [T]hey were storming the sand-heap, pelting a king of the castle, who pelted back with handfuls.”

“Mr. Matthews, usually nonjudgmental when writing about O'Connor's domestic relations, can't resist⟳ calling him "the king of the castle, the smug possessor of a bevy of three fine women absolutely de-voted to him."”

“[A] onetime classmate in Kumamoto said, "I think⟳ Matsumoto is trying to create⟳ a closed society like⟳ the school for the blind he went to. He is trying to create⟳ a society separate⟳ from ordinary society in which he can become⟳ king of the castle."”

“Darren Clarke's impressive victory on Sunday at Montecastillo in the Volvo Masters, the season's finale, was good enough to leapfrog Lee Westwood into second place⟳ on the order⟳ of merit, but not to dislodge Monty as the king of the castle.”

“Wainwright, who is composing the music, is partnered with Daniel MacIvor, who is writing the libretto. “Both Daniel and I are used to being king of the castle,” Rufus confides, “so we need⟳ a third party to give⟳ us a sense⟳ of perspective.””

CEFR level