palace politics
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He avoids palace politics at the office.”
“The new minister struggled to survive the palace politics that defined the inner circle of the government.”
“The ambitious advisor spent his entire career navigating the dangerous palace politics of the royal court, eventually securing his position through careful alliances and calculated betrayals.”
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a week is a long time in politics
In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.
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palace intrigue
A situation in which powerful individuals within an organization are working against each other.
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play politics
to act or say something according to political ambition, self-interest, and gamesmanship instead of moral conviction and altruism; to politick
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student union politics
Political actions seen as being unprofessional or childish; resembling those of the students' union.
Last updated August 10, 2026