éminence grise

See also: eminence grise

English

Alternative forms

• eminence grise

Etymology

Borrowed from French éminence grise.

Noun

éminence grise (plural éminences grises or éminence grises)

1. (idiomatic) A secret or unofficial decision-maker.

   Synonyms: gray eminence, power broker, power behind the throne

   • 1987 July 12, John A. Garraty, "Harry's Luck" (book review of Harry Hopkins: Ally of the Poor and Defender of Democracy by George McJimsey), New York Times (retrieved 4 Sep. 2011):

     But Harry Hopkins was no mere manipulator of people and ideas, no eminence grise masterminding the actions of figureheads.

   • 2009 Sept. 16, Coco Masters, "New Prime Minister — and New Shadow Shogun," Time:

     Ozawa is the Secretary-General of Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DJP) and the éminence grise of the electoral campaign that catapulted the new Prime Minister to power.

Translations

a secret or unofficial decision-maker; the power behind the throne — see also power broker

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 權力經紀人／权力经纪人, 权力经纪人 (quánlì jīngjìrén)

• Czech: šedá eminence (cs) f
• Danish: grå eminence c
• Dutch: grijze eminentie
• Finnish: harmaa eminenssi (fi)
• French: éminence grise (fr) f
• Georgian: რუხი კარდინალი (ruxi ḳardinali)
• German: graue Eminenz f
• Italian: eminenza grigia f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Japanese: 黒幕 (ja) (くろまく, kuromaku)
• Korean: 흑막 (ko) (heungmak)
• Norwegian: grå eminense m
• Portuguese: eminência parda f
• Romanian: eminență cenușie (ro) f
• Russian: се́рый кардина́л (ru) m (séryj kardinál) (lit: grey cardinal)
• Serbo-Croatian: siva eminencija, сива еминенција f
• Spanish: eminencia gris f, jefe máximo m (Mexico)
• Swedish: grå eminens

Further reading

• éminence grise on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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French

Etymology

Originally applied to Cardinal Richelieu's secretary Père Joseph, after the color of his habit.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e.mi.nɑ̃s ɡʁiz/

Noun

éminence grise f (plural éminences grises)

1. (idiomatic) éminence grise

Descendants

• → English: éminence grise
• → German: graue Eminenz (calque)