clout list

clout list

A secret list of people who, through advantageous connections and relationships with people of affluence, authority, or political influence, are given preferential consideration during an admissions or appointments process. Even though he didn't do well in school, his father's connections to state senators and local politicians enabled him to be put on the university's clout list, and he eventually gained admission.
See also: clout, list
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • clout
  • force of numbers
  • come from far and wide
  • along the beaten track
  • beaten
  • couple
  • couple of
  • a couple of (people or things)
  • big and bold
  • chief
References in periodicals archive
1 - Zucchini In Arabic: hiya kussa English equivalent: on the clout list Zucchini, September 3, 2014 - Wikimedia/MikeMozart Egyptians use this proverb for referring to corruption, favoritism and nepotism, and especially when a rule does not apply to all people.
Stories behind 9 of Egypt's colloquial proverbs
The lawsuit sought access to names and addresses of the parents of admission applicants on the university's so-called "clout list." The newspaper published a series of stories in 2009 claiming the university had a preferential admissions policy in which friends of trustees and state lawmakers were admitted despite subpar academic qualifications.
Appeals court throws out Chicago Tribune lawsuit
On a"clout list," a directory of 5,743 people referred for city jobs by political or union sponsors released by federal prosecutors in June, the names of Preckwinkle and Munoz were at the bottom of the list.
To many observers, the existence of a clout list showed the way city supervisors and Chicago politicians routinely skirted a 1991 ban on politically motivated hiring.
By choice or by chance: not everyone on the Chicago City Council has a patronage operation