brain trust
Expert advisory group
A brain trust is a group of expert advisers assembled to provide specialized knowledge and guidance, typically to a political leader or organization.
The term originated in the 1930s to describe the academic advisers surrounding Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
It now applies broadly to any informal circle of knowledgeable consultants: The CEO relies on a brain trust of former executives and industry analysts.
The variant brains trust is more common in British English.
Focused field authorities
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
- authoritiesThose holding official control
- mavensTrusted subject authorities
- gurusVenerated teachers or experts
savants · virtuosos · masters · scholars · pundits · luminaries · thought leaders · wonks
People who provide guidance
- consultantsExperts hired for guidance
- advisersPeople giving expert counsel
- strategistsDesigners of careful plans
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
specialists · inner circle · kitchen cabinet · confidants · aides · analysts · policy advisors · mentors
Designers of careful plans
- tacticiansExperts in maneuvering
- plannersThose who devise arrangements
- mastermindsPlans and directs schemes
- war roomStrategic planning headquarters
architects · visionaries · crisis managers · decision makers · chess masters
Leaderless group discussion
- task forceTemporary goal-oriented team
- working groupTeam for specific purpose
- advisory boardPanel providing organizational guidance
- panelDistinct flat section
committee · forum · council · symposium · workshop · incubator · research group · hub
specialists
Focused field authorities
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
- authoritiesThose holding official control
- mavensTrusted subject authorities
gurus · savants · virtuosos · masters · scholars · pundits · luminaries · thought leaders · wonks · professionals
counselors
People who provide guidance
- consultantsExperts hired for guidance
- advisersPeople giving expert counsel
- strategistsDesigners of careful plans
experts · specialists · inner circle · kitchen cabinet · confidants · aides · analysts · policy advisors · mentors · guides
strategists
Designers of careful plans
- tacticiansExperts in maneuvering
- plannersThose who devise arrangements
- mastermindsPlans and directs schemes
war room · architects · visionaries · crisis managers · decision makers · chess masters
roundtable
Leaderless group discussion
- task forceTemporary goal-oriented team
- working groupTeam for specific purpose
- advisory boardPanel providing organizational guidance
panel · committee · forum · council · symposium · workshop · incubator · research group · hub · collective
policy advisors
Experts guiding official decisions
- wonksStudious subject experts
- inner circlesinner circle, inner ring, inner sanctum, in-group, ingroup
- intelligentsiaintellectuals, professors, intelligentsia, academics, philosophers
- political advisorsadvisor, policy analyst, policy wonk, policy director, chief of staff
- knowledgeknowledge, common knowledge, general knowledge, factual knowledge, prior knowledge
- teamsteam, squad, sports teams, sports team, club teams
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
brain trustincompetents
Those lacking skill
know-nothings · dunces · amateurs · yes-men · sycophants
brain, brainy, brains, brainless, brainpower, brainchild, brained, cerebrum, braincase