Idioms

the power behind the throne

the power behind the throne

The person or group who has true control or a great influence on one in control, but is not officially or publicly in charge. The president's charisma and likability got him elected, but his team of advisors is the real power behind the throne.
See also: behind, power, throne
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

power behind the throne

Fig. the person who actually controls the person who is apparently in charge. Mr. Smith appears to run the shop, but his brother is the power behind the throne. They say that the vice president is the power behind the throne.
See also: behind, power, throne
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

power behind the throne

A person with great influence who stays behind the scenes and has no apparent authority. For example, Harry may be the CEO, but it's obvious that his wife is the power behind the throne. [Mid-1800s]
See also: behind, power, throne
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

the power behind the throne

If you describe someone as the power behind the throne, you mean that they are really the person that has power although another person is officially in charge. She was the real power behind the throne, a strong and determined woman controlling a weaker husband for her own aims.
See also: behind, power, throne
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

power behind the throne

a person who exerts authority or influence without having formal status.
See also: behind, power, throne
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

power behind the throne, the

An individual with so much influence on a king, president, or other nominal leader that he or she is the de facto leader. The idea, although certainly much older, was first expressed in this way by William Pitt in a 1770 speech: “There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself.” Among the numerous historical examples are the Russian monk Rasputin, who had enormous sway over his country’s last czar, and First Lady Nancy Reagan, who was believed to have similar influence on President Ronald Reagan. See also gray eminence.
See also: behind, power
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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References in periodicals archive
But in politics, the power behind the throne is also very important and responsibility also lies with a small cabal of unelected, overpaid advisers and cronies who are mishandling Brexit and cases of anti-semitism.
How Jeremy Corbyn's inner circle are blowing Labour's big chance -- Ayesha Hazarika
The name of his brother Said, in particular, featured prominently as the power behind the throne and hence the unwillingness to let go.
Bitter lesson for dictators
He has been described as the power behind the throne of his father.
Crown Prince MBS a great reformer
sickly ...is Rachel Weisz plays the Duchess of Marlborough, who begins in pole position as the power behind the throne, pushing the gout-afflicted monarch about in a wheelchair.
a battle royal; Superbly acted period tale of backbiting and ambition in the court of Queen Anne is the first great movie of 2019
| 1428: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power behind the throne during the Wars Of The Roses, was born.
On this day
1428: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power behind the throne during the Wars Of The Roses, was born.
HAPPENED ON THIS DAY
FEAST OF SAINT CECILIA, PATRON OF MUSIC 1428: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power behind the throne during the Wars of the Roses, was born.
ON THIS DAY
So the question would then arise as to who would be the power behind the throne."
Replacing Mohammed bin Salman Would Require a Royal Uprising
Bin Salman, who was surprisingly made the power behind the throne last June after replacing former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, is accused of using the crackdown to consolidate his power.
Saudi Arabia Still Detaining Dozens from Corruption Purge
'Najib will be back atop the Umno pile, though not as its president but as the power behind the throne,' the Iskandar Puteri MP said in a statement.
Kit Siang: Kakistocrats, kleptocrats staging political comeback
FEAST OF SAINT CECILIA 1428: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power behind the throne during the Wars Of The Roses, was born.
ON THIS DAY
The removal of the former Breitbart editor as Trump's chief strategist marks a remarkable rise and fall for a rightwing ideologue regarded by some as the power behind the throne.
Steve Bannon returns to Breitbart News after White House exit
Will they govern together or, heaven forbid, will Escudero be the power behind the throne?
Why is Grace running for president?
What all this means is that Panneerselvam is the CM of a key state, but it is Jayalalithaa who will be the power behind the throne. Not that this is the first time something like this has happened in India.
Sycophancy needed to be Tamil Nadu CM
And make no mistake, no drama about Cilla's life can be taken seriously unless Bobby Willis, the power behind the throne, is shown playing a leading role in it - because he played such a central part in Cilla's life.
Liverpool approval for Welsh Aneurin's Scouse 'Cilla' accent; Liverpool Echo TV critic Paddy Shennan hails Aneurin Barnard's Scouse accent - and all-round performance - in Cilla
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