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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One day, the powers that be had pulled her aside and gestured to her hair. —

Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2024 How Did 'Squid Game' Season 2 End? After seemingly making progress in his mission to topple the powers that be behind the bloody games, Gi-hun ended Season 2 emotionally broken. —

Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 The shtick was that the powers that be had changed their minds after seeing a recut version. —

Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024 And lo, the powers that be looked upon the land that all creatures bright and beautiful did tread, and declared: Let there be a holiday-release prequel! —

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the powers that be

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“The powers that be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20powers%20that%20be. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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