behind every successful man there stands a woman

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /bɪˈhaɪnd ˌɛvɹi səkˈsɛsfl̩ ˈmæn ðɛə ˈstændz ə ˈwʊmən/, /bə-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /bɪˈhaɪnd ˌɛvɹi səkˈsɛsfl̩ ˈmæn ðɛɚ ˈstændz ə ˈwʊmən/
• Hyphenation: be‧hind eve‧ry suc‧cess‧ful man there stands a wo‧man

• Audio (US, male voice)

  (file)

• Audio (US, female voice)

  (file)

behind every successful man there stands a woman

1. A man’s achievements are made possible by the support and work of their wife or female partner.

   Synonyms: behind every great man is a great woman, behind every great man there stands a woman

The intention of the saying is not so much to make a factual observation, but to acknowledge the support that normally remains behind the scenes.

• the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

• “behind every great/successful man there stands a woman” in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Gary Martin (1997–), “Behind every great man there's a great woman”, in The Phrase Finder.