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Huangpengcheng Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Can someone paraphrase this sentence?

This is a sentence seen in a speech delivered by Ang San Suu Kyi:


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"The people of Burma had wearied of a precarious state of passive apprehension where they were 'as water in the cupped hands' of the powers that be."

The difficult part is the end of the sentence: "that be."

Is it the correct in terms of grammar?

What are the alternatives of expressing the same idea?

Thanks in advance!

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Top answer

'The powers that be' is a fixed phrase. —Idiom 32. the powers that be , those in supreme command; the authorities: 'The decision is in the hands of the powers that be'.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'The powers that be' is a fixed phrase.
  • —Idiom 32.
  • the powers that be , those in supreme command; the authorities: 'The decision is in the hands of the powers that be'.
  • 'Be' here = 'exist'.
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1 Answers
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'The powers that be' is a fixed phrase.

—Idiom
32.the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities: 'The decision is in the hands of the powers that be'.


'Be' here = 'exist'.
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