free hand


noun

unrestricted freedom or authority: They gave the decorator a free hand.

Origin of free hand

First recorded in 1925–30

British Dictionary definitions for free hand

free hand

noun

unrestricted freedom to act (esp in the phrase give (someone) a free hand)

adjective, adverb freehand

(done) by hand without the use of guiding instruments a freehand drawing

Idioms and Phrases with 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.