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Éminence grise: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Éminence grise noun. A person who wields power behind the scenes without an official title.
How to say it
em-ee-nonss GREEZ/ˌɛmɪnɒ̃s ˈɡriːz/
4 syllables, stressed on the fourth (GREEZ).
Éminence grise in a sentence
The chairman's quiet daughter was the firm's real éminence grise.
Every government has an éminence grise who never gives interviews.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- power behind the throne
- kingmaker
- puppet master
Where éminence grise comes from
French for grey eminence, a nickname for Father Joseph, Cardinal Richelieu's grey-robed adviser.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Every government has an _____ who never gives interviews.
- caravanserai
- éminence grise
- saudade
Show the answer
éminence grise: Every government has an éminence grise who never gives interviews.