old boy network

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

▪ I. the old boy network [the old boy network] BrE NAmE noun [sing](BrEinfmloften disapprov)
(especially in the past) the situation in many British companies, government departments and branches of the armed forces where people give jobs and other privileges to ‘old boys’ (= former students) of the ↑public school or university that they went to
•Most of the managers were chosen by the old boy network and many of them turned out to be incompetent.
 
▪ II. the ˌold ˈboy network idiom
(BrE, informal)the practice of men who went to the same school using their influence to help each other at work or socially
•Recruiting staff used to be done by means of the old boy network.
Main entry: ↑old boy_idiom