power behind the throne

noun

Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.

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Meanings

nounpower behind the throne (plural powers behind the throne or powers behind thrones)

plural powers behind the throne · plural powers behind thrones

  1. idiomaticSomeone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
éminence grise

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 幕後掌權者 /幕后掌权者
  • 幕後掌權者 /幕后掌权者 (mùhòu zhǎngquán zhě)someone who has great covert influence
Finnish harmaa eminenssi
  • harmaa eminenssisomeone who has great covert influence
French éminence grise
  • éminence grisesomeone who has great covert influence
Polish szara eminencja
  • szara eminencjasomeone who has great covert influence
Russian се́рый кардина́л
  • се́рый кардина́л (séryj kardinál)someone who has great covert influence
Spanish poder detrás del trono
  • poder detrás del tronosomeone who has great covert influence
Cite this entry
APA

power behind the throne. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20behind%20the%20throne

MLA

“power behind the throne.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20behind%20the%20throne. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “power behind the throne,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20behind%20the%20throne.

Source: power behind the throne on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.