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Synonyms

power behind the throne

Idioms  

  1. 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

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

"But like any good power behind the throne, you really didn't see her hand that much, so no one really knew how powerful she was."

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

They are accusing Musk of being the true power behind the throne.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2024

“Of course, I would be the power behind the throne, there’s no question about that,” she joked.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2022

In Zimbabwe, former President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, was seen as the power behind the throne.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2022

In 1605, Bellarmine would almost certainly have been elected Pope, but declined to offer himself as a candidate, preferring to be the power behind the throne.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.