friend at court

American

noun

a friend in a position of influence or power who may advance one's interests, especially a helpful person who is close to someone in authority.

friend at court British

noun

an influential acquaintance who can promote one's interests

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of friend at court

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

friend at court

On June 10, Newman was driving to work when she got a call from a friend at court: Padilla was no longer in New York.

From Time Magazine Archive

Through their No. 1 friend at court, Goring Aide Dr. Helmuth Christian Wohlthat, they convinced the marshal that private industry, if given a free hand, could do the job.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Austria, during the early days, the Rothschilds had Metternich as their friend at court.

From Time Magazine Archive

Senator Frederick Huntington Gillett, 79, Massachusetts, was her friend at court .his time.

From Time Magazine Archive

I had no true friend at court, except Elnora.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023