- access
- bad influence
- bang
- bar
- barricade
- batten
- batten down
- big wheel
- bolt
- button
- button up
- cast
- choke
- choke off
- clap
- close
- close up
- constrict
- contain
- contract
- court
- cover
- eminence grise
- fasten
- five-percenter
- fold
- fold up
- friend at court
- good influence
- gray eminence
- heavyweight
- hidden hand
- hint
- influence
- influence peddler
- influencer
- ingroup
- intimation
- key
- kingmaker
- latch
- lead
- lobby
- lobbyist
- lock
- lock out
- lock up
- lords of creation
- manipulator
- man of influence
- occlude
- open sesame
- padlock
- plumb
- powers that be
- pressure group
- Rasputin
- seal
- seal off
- seal up
- secure
- shut
- shut the door
- shut up
- sinister influence
- slam
- snap
- special-interest group
- special interests
- squeeze shut
- strangle
- suggestion
- Svengali
- the Establishment
- tone
- very important person
- VIP
- wheeler-dealer
- wire-puller
- zipper
- zip up