cock of the walk

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

cock of the walk (plural cocks of the walk)

1. (idiomatic) A proud or conceited person.
   • c. 19th century, J. M. Crofts (attributed), The Irish Rover

     With his smart witty talk

     He was cock of the walk

     And he rolled the dames under and over

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 71:

     "That fellow was not born yesterday. He is the cock of the walk here," said Peter; "I shouldn't wonder if it is our old friend himself." Three more birds came in, and as each took up his roosting place, the old bird repeated his challenge by snapping his beak at them.

• cock of the roost, rooster