hidden hand
Unseen guiding force
A hidden hand is an unseen force or secret influence directing events from behind the scenes.
The phrase often appears in conspiracy theories or political analysis: Some suspect a hidden hand behind the market crash.
It can also describe any covert manipulation: A hidden hand seemed to guide his meteoric rise.
- puppet masterOne controlling figures backstage
- pulling stringsExercising covert influence
- string pullerHidden influence wielder
- power behind the throneHidden controller of affairs
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
shadow government · powers that be · mastermind · smoke filled room · secret society · oligarchy · schemer · Adam Smith · manipulation · covert operations · laissez-faire · Rasputin · kingmaker · marionette · fate · silent partner · social engineering · shadow
- Eisenhower EraDwight Eisenhower, Ike, Richard Nixon, Nixon, farewell address
- shadow powerpuppet master, puppeteer, string puller, string pulling, string-pulling
- orchestratorsorchestrator, mastermind, coordinator, organizer, arranger
- Treachery SymbolsJudas, Brutus, Judas kiss, kiss of Judas, silver coins
hidden handpublic figure
Prominent, widely recognized person
front man · figurehead · spokesman · open hand · public advocate
hidden handdemocratic process
Collective decision-making by citizens
legitimate authority · rule of law · constitutional power · due process · public mandate
hidden handinvisible hand
Unintended societal benefit from self-interest
market forces · spontaneous order · unintended consequences · collective action · grassroots movement
hand, hide, hidden, handle, handy, hiding, handful, handmade, hides