queen bee

Definitions

1. A reproductive female (especially the only one) in a colony of bees.
2. The most important or dominant woman in an organization or situation.
   colloquial, derogatory, idiomatic
3. A stem cell.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“It is generally believed that the queen bee mates only once in her lifetime.”

“She wrote very generously to aspiring women writers, gave them good advice, took time to read⟳ their manuscripts and comments, and warmly applauded their successes. There is not a hint of the Queen Bee in the attitude toward other women writers.”

“She muttered to her mother, “There's that obnoxious redhead who thought she was the Queen Bee last⟳ year when she was a senior!””

CEFR level