eminence grise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That emotionally astute author, the eminence grise, the institutional memory.

From Washington Post • Dec. 28, 2021

But he was hardly anyone’s idea of an eminence grise when he was plucked from relative obscurity as publisher of Pan Books, Britain’s paperback king, to run America’s most storied hardcover imprint.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 31, 2019

As a kid, Hogan hovered like a disapproving eminence grise over my fledgling attempts to become a grown-up.

From Golf Digest • Jul. 12, 2018

“Le Pen is a man of the 19th century,” said Philippe Peninque, a former lawyer and consultant who is often described as Ms. Le Pen’s eminence grise.

From New York Times • May 3, 2017

In a pre-Bridesmaids world, the name Paul Feig would have meant little, save to a loyal hardcore of 90s coming-of-age TV fans who saw him as the eminence grise behind Judd Apatow's comic empire.

From The Guardian • Jul. 20, 2013