| 单词 | take a liberty |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto take the (also †a) liberty (to do something) a. to take the (also †a) liberty (to do something): to be so presumptuous as (to do something); to venture (to do something) without first asking permission. Also (now frequently) to take the liberty of (doing something). ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > freedom of action or from restraint > have freedom of action [verb (intransitive)] > take liberties to be (so) boldc1385 to take (a or the) boldness1526 to take the (also a) liberty (to do something)1582 to make (so) bolda1616 free1889 society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > freedom of action or from restraint > not restrain [verb (transitive)] > take liberty with or to do to make or be bold withc1385 to take the (also a) liberty (to do something)1582 1582 G. Whetstone Heptameron Ciuill Disc. iii. sig. K.ij If she take the lyberty to walk, shee giueth other occasion to speake, & your selfe to sigh. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 153 Mæcenas took the Liberty to tell him that [etc.]. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica v. xx. 263 They took a liberty to compound and piece together creatures of allowable formes into mixtures inexistent. View more context for this quotation 1684 Proc. against Sir Thomas Armstrong 3/2 You take the Liberty of saying what you please; you talk of being robbed, no body has robbed you that I know of. 1704 N. N. tr. T. Boccalini Advts. from Parnassus II. 127 Catullus..took the Liberty to call the Nobleman Bastard. 1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. ii. 72 As the names..do by no means suit their colors, we have taken the liberty of changing them to others more congruous. 1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 101 I will..take the liberty to give them..my opinion. 1887 W. W. Skeat Princ. Eng. Etymol. 454 The only objection to the title ‘Scandinavian’ is its length, on which account I shall take the liberty to shorten it to ‘Scandian’. 1939 ‘N. West’ Let. 5 Apr. in Novels & Other Writings (1997) 791 I'm taking the liberty again of sending you a set of proofs of a new novel. 1956 Rotarian Aug. 16/1 We might even take the liberty to say that he should never have been accepted in Rotary. 1995 C. Bateman Cycle of Violence xi. 188 My assistant manager took the liberty of entering her room and removing a letter she was writing. to take liberties (or a liberty) b. to take liberties (or a liberty). extracted from libertyn.1 (a) To go beyond the bounds of propriety, custom, or convention; to behave or act presumptuously. Also with with. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > be disrespectful [verb (intransitive)] > be unduly familiar to take liberties (or a liberty)1594 1594 A. Hume Treat. Felicitie 62 They haue taken a liberty, they delight in wickednes, and followes the lusts and affections of their own hearts. 1643 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce 41 He..would little perplex his thought for the obduring of nine hunderd and ninety such as will daily take wors liberties. 1695 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. III. iv. 174 Though the Verses end with the same Sound sometimes, yet generally they took a Liberty. 1739 Hist. Wks. Learned I. 83 (note) Mr. Dryden..takes great Liberties with the Authors he translates. 1749 J. Mason Ess. Power & Harmony Prosaic Numbers 71 The first Foot of the first Line..is defective by two short Syllables; which is a Liberty seldom taken. 1862 G. Borrow Wild Wales I. xii. 124 The creature [sc. a cat] soon began to take liberties, and in less than a week after my arrival at the cottage, generally mounted on my back, when it saw me reading or writing. 1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xxiii. 286 He thought I was taking some undue liberty with his dignity. 1924 A. A. Milne When we were very Young 57 Excuse me, Your Majesty, For taking of The liberty, But marmalade is tasty, if It's very Thickly Spread. 1979 N.Y. Mag. 14 May 75/1 Most uncommonly for our times, it [sc. a production of Molière's Misanthrope] does not take a single outrageous liberty. 1992 D. Robins Tarnished Vision v. 38 I will admit barnies with the Law, when some copper starts taking liberties. (b) euphemistic. To engage in (esp. improper or unwelcome) sexual activity with a person. ΚΠ 1696 J. Ovington Voy. Suratt 79 She takes her liberty with Subject or Foreigner, African or European at her will. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 241 The poor Man had taken a little Liberty with a Wench. 1782 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 402/1 The prisoner came into her room..and began taking those liberties with her that constituted the crime. 1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Pound The boxer beat the fellow for taking liberties with his mistress. 1857 Times 22 Dec. 8/4 I never did..take indecent liberties with the producent. 1951 G. Heyer Quiet Gentleman x. 144 She was much inclined to think herself a fast girl, with whom gentlemen thought it proper to take liberties. 1967 Listener 23 Feb. 271/1 A scene in which he is wrongfully accused of ‘taking a liberty’ with one of the female guests. 2001 B. Shulgasser-Parker Funny Accent xvi. 168 The story of a crude adult taking liberties with a child. < as lemmas |
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