have a free hand
Meaning: To have freedom to act as one sees fit.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The new coach was given a free hand to rebuild the team.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: A hand not held back or tied. The phrase is found from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Portuguese: carta branca — literally: white paper
- French: Avoir les coudées franches — literally: To have free elbow-lengths
More idioms — Body & Senses
- take a load off someone's mind — To relieve someone of a worry.
- hand in hand — Closely together; in close association.
- kicking and screaming — Very reluctantly, protesting all the way.
- lie through one's teeth — To lie openly and shamelessly.
- put one's feet up — To relax and rest.
- fall into someone's lap — To come to someone without any effort.
More English idioms
- wear sackcloth and ashes — To show public regret or repentance.
- a bottomless pit — Something that uses up endless money or effort; also a person who is always hungry.
- in the middle of nowhere — In a very remote place, far from towns.
- out of thin air — Appearing from nowhere, as if by magic.
- be at a low ebb — To be in a poor or weak state.
- sit on the fence — To avoid taking sides.
From our compliments & insults
- Tête de linotte — A scatterbrain who can't hold a thought.
- Courir sur le haricot — To get badly on someone's nerves.
- Tienes menos luces que un barco pirata — You're really not the brightest.