the powers that be
idiom
: the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
Examples of the powers that be in a Sentence
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We could've just been thrown right into the heat of battle, yet director Tim Longo (who would shepherd Halo 5 a decade later), the team of writers, and the powers that be at LucasArts decided to hit the ground walking instead of running.
—
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Indeed, Rutledge believes the powers that be are greedily swindling the common folk.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
This is just like what the powers that be have been marketing.
—Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
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Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Indeed, Rutledge believes the powers that be are greedily swindling the common folk.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
This is just like what the powers that be have been marketing.
—Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
Cite this Entry
“The powers that be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20powers%20that%20be. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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