em‧i‧nence grise /ˌemɪnɒns ˈɡriːz $ -nɑːns-/
noun (
plural eminences grises)
[countable][
Date: 1800-1900;
Language: French;
Origin: éminence grise 'gray eminence', originally used of Père Joseph, adviser of the French minister Cardinal Richelieu]
someone who has unofficial power, often secretly, through someone else:
Borusa had no wish to become president, instead preferring to operate as an eminence grise behind the scenes. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲