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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Since Eddie couldn’t deny or corroborate any of it from beyond the grave, and in the absence of a sufficiently compelling alternative theory of the case, the powers that be concluded the investigation and Fleming put his case board and files in storage.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the powers that be at Frito-Lay decided to tug at America’s heartstrings by taking us straight to the heartland.
—Rob Ledonne, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025
Turns out having projects endorsed by the former President and First Lady doesn’t immediately translate to a greenlight from the powers that be at studios or streamers.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
And this attitude rather suits the powers that be in media and entertainment, for whom attention of any kind suffices.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
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Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Instead, the powers that be at Frito-Lay decided to tug at America’s heartstrings by taking us straight to the heartland.
—Rob Ledonne, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025
Turns out having projects endorsed by the former President and First Lady doesn’t immediately translate to a greenlight from the powers that be at studios or streamers.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
And this attitude rather suits the powers that be in media and entertainment, for whom attention of any kind suffices.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 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 14 Mar. 2025.
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