In each question below, an idiom or phrase is given

Solution

“Back stairs influence” means the exercise of power or influence through private, unofficial, or covert channels — particularly through personal access to persons in authority — rather than through legitimate, transparent, or formally established processes. The idiom originates from the image of using servants’ back stairs to gain private access to powerful figures, bypassing the formal front entrance. The key elements are: (a) covert or unofficial access, (b) to persons of authority, and (c) used to shape decisions or outcomes. Sentence 1 uses the idiom correctly. The retired general uses private access to the minister’s office — an unofficial, covert channel — to influence a public procurement decision. This is precisely back stairs influence: private access to authority used to shape an official outcome.  Sentence 2 uses the idiom correctly. Anne Boleyn exercised influence over royal policy through her unofficial role as lady-in-waiting — a private, informal channel of access to authority — before she had any formal standing. This is a historically accurate and contextually precise application of the idiom.  Sentence 3 uses the idiom incorrectly. The sentence describes management publicly announcing wage offers before private negotiations concluded — this is a transparent, public action, however manipulative its intent. “Back stairs influence” specifically denotes covert, private, unofficial channels of influence. A public media announcement is the opposite of back stairs — it is overt and front-facing. The correct description for this management behaviour would be “bad faith negotiation” or “public pressure tactics.”  Hence (A) Only 1 and 2 is the correct answer.