In Greek we say that someone has
«διασυνδέσεις» [ð͡ʝasinˈðesis] (fem. nom. pl.) -->
connections, links, a MoGr calque for the Eng.
connections formed with the joining together of three Classical words:
Prefix, adverb, and preposition
«διά» diắ -->
in two, apart, through (PIE *dis-
apart cf Lat. dis-, Alb. ç- [t͡ʃ-]
apart) + preposition, and adv.
«σύν» sún -->
with, together (with obscure etymology) + fem. 3rd declension deverbal noun
«δέσις» désis (nom. sing.),
«δέσεως» désĕōs (gen. sing.) -->
binding (< v.
«δέω» déō -->
to bind (PIE *deh₁-
to bind cf Skt. द्यति (dyati),
to bind, Hitt. tii̪a (idem)).
Colloquially we also say that someone has a
«βύσμα» [ˈvizma] (neut. nom. sing.) --> lit.
connector, input jack, plug, metaph.
connections, high-ranking contacts < Classical deverbal neut. noun
«βύσμα» búsmă -->
plug, bung < Classical v.
«βύω» búō (PIE *beu̯s-
to blow, swell cf Proto-Germanic *pusōną,
to snort, blow > Ger. pusten, Eng. pose; Alb. mbush,
to fill).
The person with «βύσμα» is a
«βυσματίας» [vizmaˈti.as] (masc. & fem.), or a
«βυσματούχος» [vizmaˈtuxos] (masc. & fem.).
There's also this old fossilised expression from early 19th c. that someone well-connected has a
«μπάρμπα στην Koρώνη» [ˈbarba stiŋ͜ goˈɾoni] -->
an uncle in Koroni.
During the Ottoman rule over Greece, the town of Koroni, was the centre of olive-oil production in SW Greece, so anyone who had relatives with a considerable olive grove in the vicinity of Koroni, exercised significant influence over the local Ottoman ruler, the
Aga. S/he had "an uncle in Koroni".
«Μπάρμπας» [ˈbarbas] (masc.) is the colloquiliasm of
uncle (considered obsolete nowadays, personally haven't heard it for ages), or
middle-aged man, and derives from the Italian name for the
beard, barba.
