丈夫的母亲mother-in-law

祖母，外祖母<方>grandmother

喻指上级机关higher authority

• 重要的是有个开明的“婆婆”。

  It is important to have enlightened higher authorities.

• 一些本来应该属村民自治范围的事情多了几个“婆婆”。

  A number of matters that should have been under the autonomy of the villagers have several new higher authorities in charge of them.