Definition

Noun: A person who uses secret or indirect influence, especially in politics or business, to control events or people for their own benefit. The term originates from the idea of a puppeteer who pulls wires or strings to make a puppet move, implying the person operates behind the scenes.

Usage

This word is used to describe someone who exercises power discreetly, often without holding an official title. It typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting manipulation and hidden agendas.

Examples

• The senator was merely a figurehead; the real decisions were made by a powerful wire-puller in the party.
• In the corporate takeover, a shadowy wire-puller orchestrated the entire deal from a private office.
• The investigation revealed that a wire-puller had been influencing the committee's votes for years.

Advanced Usage

• The wire-puller behind the throne: A common phrase describing a person who secretly controls a leader or organization.
  • Though the CEO was the public face, everyone knew his chief advisor was the real wire-puller behind the throne.

Variants and Related Words

• Wire-pulling (noun): The act of exerting secret influence.
  • The scandal exposed years of political wire-pulling.

Synonyms

• Puppet master
• Power behind the throne
• Éminence grise (a French term for a powerful advisor who operates in the shadows)
• Manipulator
• Svengali

Related Idioms

• To pull the strings: To control a situation or person secretly.
  • He isn't the manager, but he's pulling the strings on this project.
  • This idiom is the verbal action from which the noun "wire-puller" is derived.

Noun

1. one who uses secret influence (i.e. pulls wires or strings) for his own ends