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.这些词均表示当权者、当局、统治制度，尤含贬义。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当权者；当局◆The health authorities are investigating the problem.卫生部门正在调查这个问题。◆Someone reported him to the immigration authorities.有人向移民当局举报了他。■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官僚体制；实行官僚体制的国家◆Many people believed that the state bureaucracy was corrupt.许多人认为国家官僚体制很腐败。◆We are living in a modern bureaucracy.我们生活在现代官僚体制中。 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（通常反对变革的）当权派，权势集团◆As a young designer she soon became known for kicking against the Establishment.作为一名年轻设计师，她很快因反对权威而闻名。◆His ideas have not been widely accepted within the academic establishment.在学术界，他的论点还没有得到广泛认可。■the systemthe rules or people that control a country or organization, especially when they seem unfair because you cannot change them（尤指不公正的统治或管理）制度，体系，集团◆You should know you can't beat the system(= you must accept the way things are done).你该知道，你斗不过现行的体制。◆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对他有利。■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（机构或领域的）最高负责人，要员，头目◆There will be a meeting of the sport's top brass in Paris this week.本周将在巴黎召开一次体育巨头会议。■officialdom /əˈfɪʃldəm/ / [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（只懂按本子办事而不便民的）官僚，当官的人◆The report is critical of attempts by officialdom to deal with the problem of homelessness.报告对处理无家可归者问题上的官僚作风提出批评。