powers that be | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)The holders of power or theauthoritiesin a given situation, especially if seen as beingfacelessor unreasonablybureaucratic.1857,Anthony Trollope, “Hiram’s Hospital According to Act of Parliament”, inBarchester Towers.[…], volume I, London:Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts,→OCLC,page20:[I]t appeared as though the hospital at Barchester would fall into abeyance, unless thepowers that beshould take some steps towards putting it once more into working order.1929,Alexander Berkman, chapter10, inNow and After: The ABC of Communist Anarchism, New York: Vanguard Press,→OCLC:Whoever you elect, he will legislate in favor of ‘law and order,’ to protect things as they are. The main concern of thepowers that beis that the people should continue to believe in and uphold the existing system.1975, “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)”, inThe Heat Is On, performed byThe Isley Brothers:Time is truly wastin', there's no guarantee / Smile is in the makin', we've got to fight thepowers that be2021, “Skyline”, inParallel World, performed byCadence Weapon:Thepowers that be, they trick us / Loopholes to evict us

Examples:

EN: "The word - that terrible life-giving word. I have snatched it from the evil, dark powers that be.
ES: "La palabra, la terrible palabra que da vida, se la he arrancado a las potencias del mal.
EN: Splendid, but look out for the powers that be.
ES: ¡Espléndido! Pero cuidado con las influencias.
EN: There will be no interference from the powers that be.
ES: No habrá interferencias de los poderes fácticos.
EN: By all the powers that be, Reverend, you're a man.
ES: ¡ Pues sea un hombre!
EN: I must say, I think it very - to put it mildly - thoughtless of the powers that be to allow such a situation to arise.
ES: Debo decir que esta situación... es extremadamente desagradable.
EN: "... without class distinction and conditions, ask the powers that be..."
ES: "sin distinción de clase y condición, solicita a esta Magistratura...
EN: "Not until such time as the philosopher becomes king... or the king and the powers that be have acquired... to true and profound understanding of philosophy... and wisdom and statecraft are embodied in one and the same person will the state and its people rid themselves of evil."
ES: "Hasta el momento en que el filósofo se convierta en rey, o el rey y sus poderes hayan adquirido una comprensión verdadera y profunda de la filosofía, y la sabiduría y el arte de gobernar estén encarnados en una y misma persona, ...el Estado y su pueblo no se librarán del mal."
EN: ¿But will the powers that be as we know them, ever turn philosophers?
ES: Pero, los poderes existentes tal y como los conocemos ¿alguna vez se convertirán en filósofos?
EN: "For some reason Mike Slattery is trying to convince the powers that be that .."
ES: "Por alguna razón, Mike Slattery intenta convencer a las autoridades de que..."
EN: The powers that be are awful disturbed.
ES: Los poderosos están nerviosos.
EN: Well, proving to the 'powers that be' how industrious you are.
ES: Demostrar a los poderes fácticos lo laborioso que eres.
EN: Not me, old mate – the powers that be aren't keen on social calls.
ES: - Es a los jefes a quienes no les gusta.
EN: The powers that be seem to want the cutting, but I-- I've been trying to stay open to your ideas-- your business ideas.
ES: El poder establecido prefiere los recortes... pero yo intenté mantenerme abierta a tus ideas.
EN: It seems the MacAuslands are among the powers that be in Pittsfield.
ES: Y por lo visto, los McAusland están entre los poderes de Pittsfield.
EN: And I'm sorry for what's happened between you and the powers that be, but...
ES: Siento mucho lo que pasó entre tu y los grandes jefes, pero...

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