movers and shakers

British  

plural noun

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

---

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

It’s all part of an effort, observers say, for the companies to properly position themselves with the movers and shakers in town.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

With a population of about 9.5 million and an underperforming economy, Hungary isn’t one of the earth’s movers and shakers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

For just one week everyone is Irish and those who form part of the travelling circus have their stamina rewarded with enviable access to the movers and shakers within the US political elite.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025

Then it’s on to London, where Ono met the movers and shakers of Swinging Sixties counterculture — including, fatefully, Lennon, who came to see her show at a London gallery.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024

Mom became even more concerned about my values when my editor offered me a job writing a weekly column about what he called the behind-the-scenes doings of the movers and shakers.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls