a free hand


a free hand

Complete freedom to do what one wants or chooses. Can you believe the boss gave me a free hand on this project? Finally, I can present a campaign with my own vision!See also: free, hand

*free hand (with someone or something)

Fig. freedom to exercise complete control over something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I didn't get a free hand with the last project. John was in charge then, but he didn't get a free hand either.See also: free, hand

free hand

Also, free rein. Freedom to do or decide as one sees fit. For example, The teacher gave her assistant a free hand with the class, or They gave me free rein to reorganize the department. The first expression dates from the late 1800s, the second from the mid-1900s. See also: free, hand

a free hand

COMMON If you have a free hand, you are able to make your own decisions on how something should be done. I'll have a free hand and be able to train the team as I like. She was given a totally free hand by her clients to do exactly as she pleased.See also: free, hand

a free hand

freedom to act at your own discretion.See also: free, hand