an overall chief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall chief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person who holds the highest authority or leadership position in a particular context or organization. Example: "In our company, the overall chief is responsible for making strategic decisions that affect all departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was thus not surprising that the 9/11 commissioners fastened on the idea of appointing an overall chief to bring the muddle together.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Barclays is expected to name Bob Diamond, the investment banking executive whose enormous pay packet and unapologetic defence of the City's bonus culture have made him a controversial figure, as its new overall chief executive.

The Guardian - Business

That idea received a lift on Thursday when the two top-ranking members of a Senate committee that will hold hearings on the commission's recommendations said they liked the proposal for an overall intelligence chief.

The New York Times

To make room for Powell at the election-planning top table, Miliband shunted aside Michael Dugher, a former spokesman for Gordon Brown, whose relations with Douglas Alexander, overall chief of the campaign, were fraught.

The Guardian

American officials have described Mr. Nashiri as the most important Qaeda member to be taken into custody since the capture in Pakistan last March of Abu Zubaydah, a Palestinian who was described as the terror network's overall chief of operations.

The New York Times

Later named overall chief of research, he oversaw the building of a supersonic wind tunnel, the largest, fastest and most powerful in the world.

The New York Times

Overall chief executive Ruby McGregor-saidh, said: We continue to see a range of good outsourcing opportunities across our key markets and anticipate modest growth in the coming year.

The Guardian - Business

Glitman confirmed the U.S. proposal also deals with shorter-range missiles and declared, "We believe they have to be an integral part of the treaty and they have to be constrained". Max M. Kampelman, the overall chief of the U.S. delegation, plans to visit Brussels on Thursday to brief NATO members.

Los Angeles Times

Prats was replaced by General Pinochet as overall chief of the military.

The Guardian - Music

The chief financial officers of Shell's business units now report to the company's overall chief financial officer, Ms. Boynton, Mr. van der Veer said.

The New York Times

Walker claims Sir David Nicholson, the NHS's overall chief executive, ignored him when he sounded the alarm about high death rates at his trust.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overall chief", ensure the context clearly indicates the scope of their authority. It's most effective when specifying the area or organization they lead.

Common error

Avoid using "an overall chief" without specifying the area of responsibility. Vague usage can create confusion about the leader's actual role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall chief" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a person holding a leadership position with broad responsibilities within an organization or specific area.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an overall chief" refers to the individual holding the highest leadership role, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, it's relatively rare. Ludwig indicates that "an overall chief" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a person in charge and serving various communicative purposes across neutral registers. The most common contexts are News & Media, Business and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the chief executive officer

Formal alternative referring to the highest-ranking executive.

the top executive

Another formal way to refer to a high-ranking leader.

the general manager

Refers to someone who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement.

the supreme commander

Emphasizes the highest level of authority.

the head honcho

Informal term for the person in charge.

the top dog

Informal term for the leading person or entity.

the principal

Used to mean the most important, influential, or consequential person.

the director general

The senior managing director of an organization.

the senior administrator

Emphasizes the administrative role of the leader.

the commander in chief

Specifically refers to the leader of a nation's armed forces.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall chief" in a sentence?

You can use "an overall chief" to refer to a person who has the highest authority or leadership position in a particular organization. For example: "The company's "an overall chief" is responsible for strategic planning".

What phrases are similar to "an overall chief"?

Similar phrases include "chief executive officer", "head honcho" or "top dog", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "an overall chief" in formal writing?

While "an overall chief" is understandable, more formal alternatives like "chief executive officer" or "senior administrator" might be preferred in professional contexts.

What's the difference between "an overall chief" and "chief executive officer"?

"Chief executive officer" is a specific title, whereas "an overall chief" is a more general term referring to someone in a position of leadership. "Chief executive officer" is commonly used in corporate environments.