What role plays this **be** in the grammar of this sentence?
German translation: woertlich: *die da oben* / an den Schalthebeln der Macht
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:
the powers that be
German translation:
woertlich: *die da oben* / an den Schalthebeln der Macht
English to German translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Linguistics / grammar
English term or phrase:What role plays this **be** in the grammar of this sentence?
Can someone tell me if and how the "be" in the sentence can make sense?
Now the powers that **be** could put out all of the one sided conservative misinformation they wanted to through their networks without having to give fair and equal time to an alternate point of view.
I must admit, that this just did it for me, again I am unhappy of not being able to reward the fine explanations given by protradit and the interest for the question and willingness to help by analisa and Dominik, thank you! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Thank you so much, that is very helpful, although i do not understand why an "elliptical" expression as such should eliminates others as it obviously does.
Quote from the bible. Romans 13:1. '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.
Vielen Dank schon mal, das hilft mir schon sehr viel weiter!
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Answers
4 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): -2
what role plays this **be** in the grammar of this sentence?
künftige Entscheidungsträger
Explanation: I guess it should be "powers to be". ITC: die künftigen Entscheidungsträger.
Dominik Alber United States Local time: 01:47 Native speaker of: German
5 mins confidence:
what role plays this **be** in the grammar of this sentence?
existing powers
Explanation: Tatsächlich tendieren die bestehenden Mächte, ob politisch, ökonomisch oder finanziell, dazu, ihre eigene Spiritualität zu pflegen, indem sie die ...
imho :-)
what role plays this **be** in the grammar of this sentence?
woertlich: *die da oben*
Explanation: d.h. diejenigen, die in Behoerden, Aemtern, Rundfunkanstalten usw. das Sagen haben
Eine gute deutsche Uebersetzung dafuer faellt mir jetzt aber nicht ein :-)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 25 mins (2005-05-07 23:53:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
und natuerlich auch in der Politik, in Unternehmen usw.
silfilla Local time: 04:47 Works in field PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
I must admit, that this just did it for me, again I am unhappy of not being able to reward the fine explanations given by protradit and the interest for the question and willingness to help by analisa and Dominik, thank you!
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): -2
