2
general::
authority
verbs
have authority
• Teachers should have the authority to discipline their students. • He has no authority over us anymore.
exercise/exert your authority
( also wield authority formal ) (= use your authority )
• In practice it’s very difficult for the president to exercise his authority. • He was one of those people who want to wield authority over others.
abuse/misuse your authority
(= use your authority in a bad way )
• The mayor was accused of abusing his authority and taking bribes.
establish/assert/impose/stamp your authority
(= show people that you have authority )
• The new manager was anxious to establish her authority. • Robertson quickly stamped his authority on the team. • The State Department pressed him to take bolder steps to assert his authority.
lose your authority
• He’s worried that he is losing his authority over the party.
undermine/weaken sb’s authority
(= make someone’s authority weaker )
• I wasn’t trying to undermine your authority.
exceed/overstep your authority
(= do more than you have the power or right to do )
• A higher court decided that the judge had exceeded his authority.
challenge sb’s authority
(= try to take the power away from someone )
• There had been no-one to really challenge his authority.
adjectives
full/complete/total authority
• The manager has full authority to make decisions.
absolute authority
(= complete authority over everyone – used especially about the leader of a country )
• In those days, the emperor had absolute authority.
parental authority
• The younger children are more likely to resist parental authority.
governmental authority
• Their failure undermined governmental authority.
presidential authority
• A number of constitutional amendments have increased presidential authority.
legal authority
• US agents have legal authority to bring criminals back from overseas.
phrases
be in a position of authority
• I’ve never been in a position of authority before.
have an air of authority
approving (= look like you have authority, in a way that makes people obey you )
• The commander had an unmistakeable air of authority.
a challenge to sb’s authority
• The leadership saw the demonstrations as a challenge to their authority.
an authority figure
(= someone, such as a parent or teacher, who has the power to tell young people what they can do )
• The teacher is an authority figure, like the parent.
transnet.ir
3
general::
noun sth with the power to give orders ADJ. district, local, regional | government, public | education, health, military, planning, tax The government is urging education authorities to spend less money. | competent, lawful, relevant, statutory AUTHORITY + VERB agree sth, claim sth, decide sth, deny sth, promise sth The local health authority denied negligence. | allow (sb) sth, give (sb) sth, grant (sb) sth The local authority has not granted planning permission. power/right to give orders ADJ. absolute, complete, full, supreme | governmental, judicial, legal, ministerial, parental, presidential VERB + AUTHORITY have Parents have the authority to discipline their children. | assume He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689. | give sb | assert, demonstrate, establish, exercise, exert, show, use, wield The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority. | delegate | give up, relinquish | abuse | challenge, defy, deny, rebel against, reject, undermine She had challenged my authority once too often. | usurp AUTHORITY + NOUN figure adult authority figures such as parents and teachers PREP. in ~ I need to talk to someone in authority. | under the ~ of This can only be done under the authority of the government minister. | without ~ He took the car without authority. | ~ over Central government has extensive authority over teachers. PHRASES an air of authority He bore an air of authority. | position of authority She holds a position of authority in the local church. person with special knowledge ADJ. leading, respected, world | unimpeachable, unquestioned VERB + AUTHORITY cite, invoke Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities. PREP. ~ on She's a leading authority on genetics.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary