movers and shakers

British  

plural noun

1. informal the people with power and influence in a particular field of activity

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Etymology

Origin of movers and shakers

C20: perhaps from the line ``We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever'' in `Ode' by Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844–81), British poet

Example Sentences

Movers and shakers will gather at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday to hear U.S.

From Barron's

Movers and shakers will gather at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday to hear U.S.

From Barron's

But Izzard has a way of making the movers and shakers at Elsinore seem as familiar as workplace colleagues.

From Los Angeles Times

The splashy affair helped cement the reputation of the burgeoning community of about 1,000 full-time residents as a vacation retreat for Hollywood’s movers and shakers.

From Los Angeles Times

With its work by Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others, our critic called the show “a superlative entrée to the movers and shakers of the period.”

From The Wall Street Journal