Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“With the acting, it’s somebody else’s project, and I’m just helping make it real. But there’s a special satisfaction to being the brains behind the whole operation.”
Actor Jack Black, speaking about writing and directing his own movie (BrainyQuote)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
creator or inventor of (something)
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
In 1753, Benjamin Franklin had an idea. He took a key, tied it to a kite, and went to the top of a tall building in Philadelphia during a storm. The story goes that his kite was hit by lightning from the sky. This experiment is the reason that Benjamin Franklin is known as the brains behind usable electricity.
To be the brains behind something means to be the inventor or creator of it. Steve Jobs is known as the brains behind Apple, and therefore all the iPhones and iPads in the world. Similarly, inventor Fusajiro Yamauchi is the brains behind Nintendo. People like them have helped move the world of technology forward.
Actor Jack Black said that he likes to act, but it is more fun to be the brains behind a whole movie. He likes playing an important role in all parts of making a movie.
Are you the brains behind something interesting? What have you created?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“Thom Yorke is the brains behind Radiohead.”
“I don’t know what I will make, but someday I want to be the brains behind something big.”
“Jim is our boss and the brains behind the whole operation.”