to be behind something
1(the) brains behind something — the brains behind something phrase the person responsible for inventing, developing, or organizing something the brains behind the attack on the embassy Thesaurus: people who plan or plot thingssynonym inventors, innovators and creatorssynonym… …
2(the) reason behind something — the reason behind something phrase the real explanation or cause of something, which is not immediately obvious The reasons behind his decision were never made public. Thesaurus: reasons and excusessynonym Main entry: reason …
3(the) brains behind something — the brains behind (something) the person who provides ideas and plans for an activity. Someone very clever must be the brains behind such an organized group of thieves …
4be the brains behind something — be the brains behind (something) to be the person who plans and organizes something, especially something successful. He was the brains behind many of the best movies ever made …
5lie behind something — lie behind (something) to explain or be the reason for something. I wonder what lay behind his decision to quit school …
6throw your weight behind something — throw your weight behind (something/someone) to use your power and influence to support something or someone. If we could persuade the chairman to throw his weight behind the plan, it would have a much better chance of success …
7put (something) behind something — put (something) behind (someone/something) to support someone or something. When America declared war, Ford put his factories behind the war effort, making huge numbers of planes, trucks, and boats in his factories. My father put his reputation… …
8the brains behind something — the person responsible for inventing, developing, or organizing something the brains behind the attack on the embassy …
9the reason behind something — the real explanation or cause of something, which is not immediately obvious The reasons behind his decision were never made public …
10get behind something — get behind (someone/something) to encourage or help someone or something. I can get behind a creative idea and fight for it. Etymology: based on the idea of helping something move forward by pushing it from behind …
