authority

Related to authority: accountability

have it on good authority

To know certain information from a reliable source. I have it on good authority that Mom will take us out for ice cream if you finish your vegetables. Once that witness's story was verified, we had it on good authority that the man we'd arrested had in fact committed the crime.
See also: authority, good, have, on

throw (oneself) on/at the mercy of (someone)

To plead with someone, especially a figure of authority, to show one lenience and mercy. I have no excuse for what I did. I can only throw myself on the mercy of the duke and beg for his forgiveness. She threw herself at the mercy of the court, saying that her dependence on drugs led her to commit those crimes.
See also: mercy, of, on, throw

throw (oneself) upon the mercy of (someone)

To plead with someone, especially a figure of authority, to show one lenience and mercy. I have no excuse for what I did. I can only throw myself on the mercy of the duke and beg for his forgiveness. She threw herself at the mercy of the court, saying that her dependence on drugs led her to commit those crimes.
See also: mercy, of, throw, upon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

carry (a lot of) weight (with someone or something)

Fig. to be very influential with someone or some group of people. Your argument does not carry a lot of weight with me. The senator's testimony carried a lot of weight with the council.
See also: carry, weight

carry one's (own) weight

 and pull one's (own) weight
Fig. to do one's share; to earn one's keep. (The weight is the burden that is the responsibility of someone.) Tom, you must be more helpful around the house. We each have to carry our own weight. Bill, I'm afraid that you can't work here anymore. You just haven't been carrying your weight.
See also: carry, weight

carry weight (with someone)

Fig. to have influence with someone; [for an explanation] to amount to a good argument to use with someone. That carries a lot of weight with the older folks. What you say carries no weight with me.
See also: carry, weight

throw oneself at the mercy of some authority

 and throw oneself on the mercy of some authority; throw oneself (up)on someone's mercy
Fig. to seek mercy from a court of law, especially at one's sentencing for a crime; to seek help from an official or institution. He pleaded guilty and threw himself at the mercy of the court. It did no good to throw myself on the mercy of the State Department. Please don't! I throw myself upon your mercy!
See also: authority, mercy, of, throw
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

carry weight

Also, carry authority or conviction . Exert influence, authority, or persuasion, as in No matter what the President says, his words always carry weight. Shakespeare combined two of these expressions in Henry VIII (3:2): "Words cannot carry authority so weighty." [c. 1600]
See also: carry, weight
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

have something on good authority

If you have something on good authority, you believe it is true because you trust the person who told you about it. I have it on good authority that there's no way this light can cause skin cancer. Note: This expression can be varied, for example by using get or be told instead of have. I'm told on good authority that you will be successful in your examinations.
See also: authority, good, have, on, something

carry weight

COMMON If a person or their opinion carries weight, they are respected and are able to influence people. Not only do men talk more, but what they say often carries more weight. El Tiempo is Colombia's leading newspaper and its opinions carry considerable weight in the country.
See also: carry, weight
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

have something on good authority

have ascertained something from a reliable source.
See also: authority, good, have, on, something

carry weight

be influential or important.
See also: carry, weight
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

have something on good auˈthority

be able to believe something because you trust the person who gave you the information: I have it on good authority that the chairman is going to resign.
See also: authority, good, have, on, something

carry ˈweight

be important or able to influence somebody: His opinions carry very little weight with his manager.
See also: carry, weight
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

carry weight

verb
See carry an amount of weight
See also: carry, weight
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • What number are you calling from?
  • all good things (come) to those who wait
  • bio mom
  • at the latest
  • be caught short
  • be caught/taken short
  • ask (one) over
  • ask over
  • be (someone's) funeral
  • funeral
References in periodicals archive
The purpose of setting up the authority is to avoid dependence on other development authorities like Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for acquisition of land.
Naya Pakistan housing authority ordinance to be presented in NA today
7 Ysgol Friars Authority: Gwynedd Gender: Mixed TOTAL SCORE 58 ....
THE TOP 10 SCHOOLS
...Egglescliffe Ian Ramsey School 4 Church of 5 Engalnd Academy Authority: Stockton-on-Tees Religion: N/A Admission: Comprehensive Gender: Mixed Authority: Stockton-on-Tees Religion: Church of England Admission: Comprehensive Gender: Mixed ....
ATTENDANCE TOP 5
The cabinet meeting formed four-member committee and asked it to present a brief report on Sindh Safe City Authority within 15 days.
Sindh cabinet approves Rs477mn for erstwhile Katchi Abadis Authority
Taking the floor, President of the National Authority for the Prevention of Torture Fethi AL Jarry pointed out that the Prime Ministry can play a significant role in the reinforcement of the material and administrative autonomy of the authorities, estimating that its authority has managed in spite of the lack of means to complete his annual report and present it to the Head of State.
Presidents of independent authorities claim financial and logistical support
He also said that livestock, food authority and other quarters should have to ensure availability of pure milk to general public.
CS visits Food Authority, appreciates performance
However, the Punjab government has yet to decided faith of Water and Development Authority (WASA) amd Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMA).
Development authorities get new heads Acc I o S rd L ing A M to A a B A Gil D an : i in 14 major cities of Punjab
Upon this, now member enforcement has assured obedience to the directions of PM regarding the exercise of authority and also raised likely non-functioning of the authority.
PTA's member enforcement assures adherence to PM's directions
Mr Butale said the administration of the two under a single Competition and Consumer Authority will result in improved single competition and Consumer Authority that will result in improved coordination of the policies and enhance the importance of consumer welfare and effectively address anti competitive practices.
Butale presents Competition Bill
The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFC Regulatory Authority) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Kuwait.
QFC Regulatory Authority signs MoU with Kuwait's CMA
It has often been observed that one characteristic of the modern world is the utter rejection of authority, or at least, the rejection of authority in so far as that is possible without leading to societal collapse.
A modern defense of religious authority
The State Auditor's Office has closed the file on complaints filed against the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority.
Auditor closes solid waste complaint file against NM Estancia Valley
Muscat, Nov 10 (ONA) The Public Authority for Civil Aviationtoday organized at the Civil Aviation Club of the Public Authority forCivil Aviation (Al Murgan Hall) an open meeting between the employees of the Authority and the Steering Committee in chargeof studying the restructuring of the civil aviation, patronized over byEng.
Public Authority for Civil Aviation / Open Meeting
Up with Authority: Why We Need Authority to Flourish as Human Beings by Victor Lee Austin (New York: T8cT Clark, 2010)
SUCCESSFUL HUMANITY
The Port Authority announced that Larry Silverstein won an arbitration ruling that entitles him to $300,000 a day from the authority for every day it is late in delivering three development parcels at the World Trade Center site where Silverstein plans to build a trio of office skyscrapers.
Silverstein wins WTC late pay