“Who gave him the 'authority' to do this?” “He didn't do it 'on his own authority' [=he didn't do it on his own]; he was acting 'under the authority of' the company president.” [=the company president gave him the power to do it]
No one 'in authority' objected to the plan. = No one 'in a position of authority' objected to the plan. [=no one with official power to make important decisions objected to the plan]
This office has 'authority' over personnel matters. [=this office has the power to make decisions about personnel matters]
(..) like they're eating themselves. All the people I respected, won't talk to me anymore Except through lawyers. People... Want an authority to tell them how to value things, but they chose this authority not based on facts or... results They chose it because it seems authoritative...or familiar! (..)2015 The Big Short