the authorities ♦︎ bureaucracy ♦︎ the establishment ♦︎ the system ♦︎ the top brass ♦︎ officialdomThese words all refer to the people who have power to make decisions in an organization, country or area of activity, or the system they are part of, especially when the system seems unfair because you cannot change or influence it.這些詞均表示當權者、當局、統治制度,尤含貶義。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆within the bureaucracy / establishment / system◆the military authorities / bureaucracy / establishment / top brass◆the medical / political authorities / bureaucracy / establishment◆the local / federal / government / state authorities / bureaucracy◆to rebel against / fight the establishment / system■the authorities [plural] the people who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region當權者;當局◆The health authorities are investigating the problem.衛生部門正在調查這個問題。◆Someone reported him to the immigration authorities.有人向移民當局舉報了他。■bureaucracy bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi; NAmEbjʊˈrɑːkrəsi [uncountable, countable] a system of government in which there are a large number of state officials who are not elected; a country with this system官僚體制;實行官僚體制的國家◆Many people believed that the state bureaucracy was corrupt.許多人認爲國家官僚體制很腐敗。◆We are living in a modern bureaucracy.我們生活在現代官僚體制中。 see also bureaucracy ⇨ bureaucracy, bureaucrat ⇨ officialnoun■the establishment ( the Establishment) [singular + singular or plural verb] (oftendisapproving) the people in a society or profession who have influence and who do not usually support change(通常反對變革的)當權派,權勢集團◆As a young designer she soon became known for kicking against the Establishment.作爲一名年輕設計師,她很快因反對權威而聞名。◆His ideas have not been widely accepted within the academic establishment.在學術界,他的論點還沒有得到廣泛認可。■the systemthe rules or people that control a country or organization, especially when they seem unfair because you cannot change them(尤指不公正的統治或管理)制度,體系,集團◆You should know you can't beat the system(= you must accept the way things are done).你該知道,你鬥不過現行的體制。◆Graham knew how to work the system(= make it work to his own advantage).格雷厄姆知道如何使制度對他有利。■the ˌtop ˈbrass (BrE) (NAmEthe brass) [singular + singular or plural verb] (informal) the people who are in the most important positions in an organization or area of activity(機構或領域的)最高負責人,要員,頭目◆There will be a meeting of the sport's top brass in Paris this week.本周將在巴黎召開一次體育巨頭會議。■officialdoməˈfɪʃldəm [uncountable] (disapproving) state officials, or people who are in important positions in large organizations, when they seem to be more interested in following rules than being helpful(只懂按本子辦事而不便民的)官僚,當官的人◆The report is critical of attempts by officialdom to deal with the problem of homelessness.報告對處理無家可歸者問題上的官僚作風提出批評。