driving force

Idioms  

1. The impetus, power, or energy behind something in motion, as in He was clearly the driving force in the new administration. This term transfers the force that sets in motion an engine or vehicle to other enterprises. Ralph Waldo Emerson was among the first to use it figuratively (English Traits, 1856): “The ability of its journals is the driving force.”

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Example Sentences

Keenly aware that "hair is part of identity", Natalie has become a driving force behind a series of workshops in north-east Wales to address this knowledge and skills gap.

From BBC

At its peak, Unity was a wildly popular game engine and the driving force behind viral crazes like Pokémon Go.

From Barron's

Casting for maximum drama is a driving force in many reality shows.

From Los Angeles Times

In its first year on the market, it helped Huggies sell more diapers, grab more market share and was one of the driving forces behind a 13.1% jump in company profit last quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The former was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup win in 2022, while the latter was the driving force behind PSG's first Champions League title.

From BBC