a captain of industry

Meaning: A powerful business leader who runs a major company.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “The dinner was full of politicians and captains of industry.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: Coined by Thomas Carlyle in Past and Present (1843), where he called on "Captains of Industry" to lead society responsibly.

Equivalents in other languages

the bigger they are, the harder they fall — The more powerful someone is, the worse their downfall.
a day late and a dollar short — Too late and not enough to be useful.
a whipping boy — Someone who is blamed or punished for the faults of others.
the life of the party — A lively, fun person who makes a gathering enjoyable.
not a soul — Absolutely nobody.
lose sleep over — To worry a lot about something.

kick against the pricks — To resist authority or fate in a way that only hurts oneself.
hell for leather — As fast as possible.
buy a pig in a poke — To buy something without examining it first.
a Trojan horse — Something that seems harmless but hides a threat inside.
the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on — Let critics complain; one carries on regardless.
drain the cup to the dregs — To endure a hardship or humiliation to the very end.

Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.