top boy

English

Noun

top boy (plural top boys)

1. (UK, slang) A leader, kingpin, or boss in the drug trade or gang hierarchy.
   • 2022 March 24, Panama Jackson, “I can’t tell if the slang on Netflix’s ‘Top Boy’ is just better or sounds better because of the British accents”, in The Grio‎, archived from the original on 26 March 2025:

     I love Top Boy, which is not only the name of the show but the British term for big boss man, the kingpin, etc. The top boy is the one who runs the drug trade.

Further reading

• 2024 April 15. Bennett, Ronan. "The Life and Death of 'Top Boy'". Esquire.