Meaning & use
behind every great man
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseold-fashioned
The start of a saying claiming that a successful man is helped and supported by a capable woman, often his wife, who gets less credit.
Grammar: Quoted as a saying, usually with the ending: behind every great man there is a great woman.
Patterns
- behind every great man there is a great woman
People say behind every great man there is a great woman, and the author thanked his wife for years of editing.
Behind every great man, as the old line goes, is someone doing the washing up.
She laughed and said behind every great man stood a tired assistant.
Common combinations
- as the saying goes
- As the saying goes, behind every great man there is a great woman.
- the old saying
- The old saying behind every great man is rarely used seriously now.
- quote the line
- He quoted the line in his thank-you speech.
- say ironically
- She said it ironically after the award.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unsung hero
- Unsung hero names the person who goes unthanked, while the saying also frames the famous person as the star.
- power behind the throne
- This phrase suggests real hidden control, while the saying suggests quiet support.
- right-hand man
- A right-hand man is a trusted assistant, not necessarily a partner or spouse.
Word family
Commonly confused: behind every great man or behind the scenes?
behind every great man vs behind the scenes
Behind the scenes means out of public view; it does not imply a supportive partner of a famous person.
Practice
Why might a speaker say 'behind every great man' with a smile at an awards dinner?
Choose one answer.
The saying points to a supporter whose work goes unnoticed. The other options do not match its meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “behind every great man”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.