English

Noun

friends in high places pl ‎(plural only)

1. (idiomatic) Friends who have authority or influence and who can ensure that one's interests will be protected or furthered.
   • 1913, E. Phillips Oppenheim, The Mischief Maker, ch. 10:

     "Herr Freudenberg himself has great friends here, friends in high places. He will see that nothing happens."

   • 1987 Nov. 30, "War Crimes: Long Road To Justice," Time (retrieved 18 May 2015):

     In recent years he was protected by friends in high places.

   • 2006 April 1, Phillip Alder, "On a Day Made for Tricks, Lots of Ways to Get Them All," New York Times (retrieved 18 May 2015):

     In Petrograd they were in great danger but had many friends in high places, and with money for bribes they avoided arrest.