back-seat driving;engineer (/manoeuvre) backstage; manipulate behind the scenes; pull strings (/wire) behind the scenes
? 他們有的在前臺表演，有的～。Among them some appeared on the stage while others pulled strings behind the scenes.
幕后操縱mù hòu cāo zònɡ
形容躲在后面指揮或出謀劃策。pull strings behind the scenes, engineer backstage, manipulate from behind the scenes, wire-pulling