(your) elders and betters

old-fashioned

people who are older than you and who should be treated with respect.

When we were children, we were always taught to respect our elders and betters.

• the conventional wisdom
• the corridors of power
• the cream of the crop
• the curtain comes down on
• the curtain comes down on something
• the curtain falls
• the curtain falls on
• the curtain falls on something
• the cut and thrust of
• the cut and thrust of something
• the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
• the day of reckoning
• the dead hand of
• the dead hand of something
• the death knell
• the demon drink
• the devil finds work for idle hands.
• the devil take the hindmost
• the dice are loaded against
• the dice are loaded against someone
• the die is cast
• the dog days
• the done thing
• the dreaded lurgy
• the dust settles