the moving spirit

the moving spirit

A person who is the catalyst or founder of an organization, movement, etc. Strangely, the moving spirit behind the protest was not in attendance, despite all the work she did to organize it.
See also: moving, spirit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the moving ˈspirit

the person who begins and leads a group, for example a political party, a group of artists, etc: He was one of the moving spirits in the establishment of the United Nations.
See also: moving, spirit
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (Someone or something) called, they want their (something) back!
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • bushel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • rotten apple spoils the barrel
References in classic literature
I saw at once that Tchebaroff was the moving spirit in the matter, and, to speak frankly, I thought he might have induced you, Mr.
The moving spirit of this worthy project is herself an exemplary student during her time, and who strongly believes that education is the great equalizer.
He called it in his book 'the moving spirit of India'.
Javed Akram who was also the moving spirit behind the National Conference on Medical Journalism which was hosted by UHS in January 2019, Prof.
A more realistic Mohsin Dawar, who was the moving spirit behind the Amendment, has thanked the country's political leadership and said this will kindle hope among the masses of ex-FATA.
It is said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan in those days, was the moving spirit behind those popular songs of Shahnaz Begum.
Aiden White, the moving spirit behind setting up ETJ, has contributed a brainy piece to the report, excerpts of which follow: 'We also look at the role of war-mongering media in India with bellicose journalists stoking up the prospects of a new conflict between these nuclear states.
"The Court application relates to the knowledge of IPIC and Aabar of the serious allegations made by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against former Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Razak, who was also the moving spirit and ultimate decision maker in 1MDB," he said.
Arif Hussain Nomani, the moving spirit behind the program in Karachi, said a strategic partnership has been fostered to plant 10, 000 saplings in and around NED University.
Baba-e-Urdu was the moving spirit behind the Usmania University Hyderabad, Deccan, where all subjects were taught in Urdu.
Irum Khalid, Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Sindh and the moving spirit behind the effort felicitating the womenfolk said PPP government committed to protect the dignity of women and provide them secured environment at every level.
He, however, humbly said that he owed his success to Hakeem Muhammad Said, the moving spirit behind Naunehaal.
Sitting ministers had named names of some higher ups in the sensitive state institutions for being the moving spirit behind the prolonged sit in of 2014 and senior judges of higher judiciary have given revealing remarks in open courts about the recent violent sit in at Faizabad by religious fanatics.
Today he is the moving spirit behind the movement, "Congress Mukt North East".
He is the moving spirit in India of the Desmo Owners Club (named after the desmodromic valve used in Ducati bikes) a global association of Ducati bike lovers, who travelled in July this year to Misano, Italy, to meet other Ducati aficionados and participate in the World Ducati Week, held at the Marco Simoncelli World Circuit racing track there.