power behind the throne
Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.
throne
UK [θɹəʊn] US [θɹoʊn]
noun 5verb 3
Collocations
17(noun.)
ADJ
empty, unoccupied, vacant | imperial, papal, royal
VERB + THRONE
ascend, assume, come to, gain, inherit, succeed to, take
When King Charles inherited the throne, millions of people watched the ceremony on television.
seize, usurp | occupy | give up, renounce | lose | regain | put sb on
topple sb from
The rebels managed to topple the dictator from his throne after decades of harsh rule.
restore sb to
be in line to
After the king's death, his oldest daughter was next in line to the throne.
PREP
on the ~
The king sat on the throne and listened to requests from his people.
PHRASES
sb's accession to the throne, a claimant/pretender to the throne
When the king died, several claimants to the throne emerged from different parts of the country.
sb's claim/right to the throne, an heir to the throne
After the king's death, his younger brother disputed the rightful claim to the throne.
the power behind the throne
Although the CEO makes all the announcements, everyone knows his wife is the real power behind the throne.
the succession to the throne
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