be the power behind the throne

To be the person or people who have true control or great influence on a leader, but who are 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. A: "Why did you marry a fool like him in the first place?" B: "So I could be the power behind the throne, my dear." Who is truly the power behind the throne here? I'm starting to think the prime minister is a mere puppet.

See also: behind, power, throne

hug the porcelain goddess

slang To vomit into a toilet. Doing so often requires one to hold the toilet (the "porcelain god"), a position that is likened to embracing a sacred idol. I bet that if Tommy doesn't stop drinking, he'll hug the porcelain goddess all night. I've never thrown up so much in my life. I can't wait till I stop hugging the porcelain goddess. Something the restaurant served us must have been spoiled, because everyone was hugging the porcelain goddess later that evening.

hug the throne

slang To vomit into a toilet. Doing so often requires one to kneel in front of or bend over the toilet (the "throne"), a position that is likened to kneeling before or bowing to a sacred idol. I bet that if Tommy doesn't stop drinking, he'll hug the throne all night. I've never thrown up so much in my life. I can't wait till I stop hugging the throne. Something the restaurant served us must have been spoiled, because everyone was hugging the throne later that evening.

on the throne

1. Reigning as the monarch or ruler of a country. With the new king on the throne, the country has seen an unprecedented level of prosperity and peace.

2. slang Seated on and using the toilet. John always reads the newspaper when he's on 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

the throne

1. The ruling position within a monarchy or empire. The new baby will be next in line for the throne. Several different factions vied for control of the throne in the bloody war.

2. slang The toilet. I keep a stack of books and magazines in the bathroom so I always have something to read while I'm on the throne. I think your father was just on the throne, so you might want to wait a while before you go in there.

throne room

A lavatory, restroom, or bathroom. "Throne" is a common slang term for "toilet." I'll be in the throne room if anyone calls for me. Someone left the throne room smelling foul.

on the throne

1. Lit. [of royalty] currently reigning. King Samuel was on the throne for two decades.

2. Fig. Sl. seated on the toilet. I can't come to the phone. I'm on the throne.

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

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

be the (real) power behind the ˈthrone

be the person who really controls a family, business, country, etc., even though people think somebody else controls it: It’s not the president who makes the important decisions; his wife is the real power behind the throne.

See also: behind, power, throne

hug the porcelain god(dess)

and hug the throne

tv. to vomit; to vomit while holding on to the toilet seat. By “hug the porcelain god” I assume you are referring to vomiting into the toilet bowl? The girls drank a lot of beer and two of them spent the night hugging the porcelain god.

hug the throne

verb

See hug the porcelain goddess

on the throne

mod. seated on the toilet. I can’t come to the phone. I’m on the throne.

the throne

n. a toilet; a toilet seat. And there was the cat—right on the throne, just staring at me.

throne room

n. a restroom; a bathroom. (see also throne.) Hank is in the throne room, reading, I think.

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.