power behind the throne

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

On Thursday, anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders became the power behind the throne in a new Dutch government that is throwing overboard compromise politics to set up the most radical rightwing coalition since the war.

From Seattle Times

I can easily imagine a scenario where Trump is a figurehead and there is a real power behind the throne pulling the strings.

From Salon

She later said that Conservative-supporting newspapers had wrongly portrayed her as the power behind the throne, by suggesting she was more intelligent than her husband.

From BBC

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was once perceived as the far-right power behind the throne of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

From Salon

Finding the "power behind the throne", as Hughes describes it, can be a complex business.

From BBC

Related Words

• fixer
• kingmaker