straw that stirs the drink

straw that stirs the drink

The most valuable or important person or thing in a system. The phrase is usually attributed to baseball player Reggie Jackson. In this law firm, Ed may think that he's the straw that stirs the drink, but there are plenty of other lawyers that we could replace him with. Ever since Jeannie found out she got the lead in the play, she's been acting like the straw that stirs the drink.
See also: drink, stir, straw, that
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • not tonight, Josephine
  • a penny for them
  • my body is ready
  • et tu, Brute?
  • scientia potentia est
  • sure as eggs is eggs
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • Give me liberty, or give me death!
  • great minds
  • great minds think alike
References in periodicals archive
He is the straw that stirs the drink for this team.
Even with an established management team, owners are often still the "straw that stirs the drink" on a daily basis.
"Casting is the straw that stirs the drink, and the casting these last few seasons has been stellar.
And NACDS, as never before, is the straw that stirs the drink.
Randy Johnson changes the Yankees considerably and Alex Rodriguez may be the most talented player in the game, but Jeter is the proverbial straw that stirs the drink when it comes to baseball in New York.
The football program is the straw that stirs the drink.
Taylor said, "Pouring resources into the news will keep us a flourishing business." In an increasingly fragmented media universe, excellent papers are "the straw that stirs the drink. We're the conscience and the bulletin board of the community.
While "American Idol" is ostensibly geared toward spotlighting the talent onstage, there's little doubt as to who's the straw that stirs the drink.