Phrase guide

power behind the throne

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 幕後掌權者 /幕后掌权者 (mùhòu zhǎngquán zhě) — someone who has great covert influence
  • Finnish: harmaa eminenssi — someone who has great covert influence
  • French: éminence grise — someone who has great covert influence
  • Russian: се́рый кардина́л (séryj kardinál) — someone who has great covert influence
  • Spanish: poder detrás del trono — someone who has great covert influence