an éminence grise



an éminence grise

  (formal)
someone who has a lot of power and influence but no official position Although he never became a minister, he was the party's éminence grise for 15 years.
See also: eminence, grise

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
SolÈNeso-LENFrench
KristelKRIS-təlEnglish (Rare)
ŠTĚPÁNka-Czech
Osvald-Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
GÜLay-Turkish
Ilar-Welsh