 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2009) |
In idiomatic English, "the powers that be" (TPTB) is a phrase used to refer to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain. It is a plurale tantum; the hypothetical singular equivalent, "the power that be", is never used.
The phrase often connotes a sense of resignation or cynicism.[citation needed] For instance, the phrase The powers that be have decided... might suggest that the decision made is unfathomable to the speaker and possibly even arbitrary. The authority of the "powers", and their right to make the decision, is not itself questioned.
Some examples of "powers that be" are:
- Governments, both central and local, and the accompanying civil service
- The upper management of a business
- Those who control the dissemination of information.
Origin
The phrase first appeared in Tyndale's 1526 translation of the New Testament, with the meaning "the established political powers": "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: The powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1). It was incorporated into the King James Version, from where it eventually passed into popular language.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
