mahoff

n. a person of importance; a big shot. Subjects: English, Slang

Editorial Note: This term is said to have an association with Philadelphia.

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Citations: 1951 Willam Moore @ Washington, D.C. Chicago Daily Tribune (Feb. 20) “‘Big Shot’ Tells of Gifts to Cop in Philadelphia” p. 15: The man known as “the big mahoff” of Philadelphia gambling told the Kefauver senate crime committee today that he…denied cash payoffs to Richardson for protection.…Rosen and Weisberg, both Russian born, came to the hearing together.…Weisberg explained that “the big mahoff” means “the big shot,” but deined he had ever heard Rosen called that. 1990 Carmen Brutto Harrisburg Patriot (Penn.) (Dec. 17) “‘It’s not who’s pro tem, it’s who has votes,’ Pardee Hack says” p. A11: The pro tem is the big mahoff in the Senate, the guy with the title and the money and the power. He’s two breaths away from being governor, and he passes out office space. 1991 Toronto Star (Can.) (Aug. 29) “Come peer into future of baseball” p. C2: A number of other baseball people—including big mahoffs from the Expos, Pirates, Brewers, Braves and the brand-new Florida Marlins—are on record as viewing at least some of these giant steps as not only good, but necessary to keep baseball afloat. 1996 Carrie Rickey Gazette (Montreal, Can.) (Jan. 21) “How the Golden Globes went legit” p. F3: Hollywood mahoffs and celebs, those very people who make fun of the event, have helped transform the Golden Globes ceremony (to be broadcast live at 8 tonight on CTV), into what more than one studio honcho calls “the second-most-important awards event in the entertainment industry.” 2002 Bill Kent Street Money (Oct. 10) p. 300: Nobody ever raided this place, as long as it was in the family. Not when my grandfather, not when my father owned it. Too many bigshots ate here. Mahoffs. What they want with a raid? 2004 [Al Beer] Padraigin Creen ‘04 (May 9) “Bio”: Our immediate office consists of an Assistant General Counsel for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs (the big “mahoff”—i.e. the “BOSS”).

Posted 21 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

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