powers that be

the people who are in authority. The powers that be have decided to send back the immigrants. I have applied for a license, and the powers that be are considering my application.

powers that be

Those who hold effective power in a system or situation: a plan vetoed by the powers that be.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Lyyti	LUY:-tee	Finnish
Ora (1)	-	English
Rinaldo	-	Italian
Sigurd	SEE-gurd (Swedish)	Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Norse Mythology
Age (1)	-	Frisian
Aibek	-	Kazakh, Kyrgyz