free hand

Related to free hand: Corel Draw

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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • a free hand
  • have a free hand
  • get a free hand
  • get, have, etc. a free hand
  • free rein
  • give (one) a free hand
  • give (one) full rein
  • get a free hand with (something)
  • allow
  • give/allow somebody/something free/full rein
References in periodicals archive
This is our basic motive - to give Rahul Gandhi a free hand. Let him make an earnest effort to make a change.
Sources, that Ghulam Murtaza allegedly took heavy amount from land-grabbers in exchange of given free hand to them.
She didn't need to, given that she abused the democratic fundamentals of this country by using the police as a paramilitary force in support of her political dogmatic ends to disable trade unions and allow free enterprise a free hand.
Speakers from trade unions, teachers' unions, university students and municipal officials delivered brief messages of peace, deplored government inaction and requested ample political cover allowing the military a free hand in dealing with gunmen hidden in their midst in a bid to abuse them as human shields or sand bags.
Resignation would give newly-elected president 'a free hand and full opportunity' to choose a replacement
The postie then used his free hand to call the fire brigade on his mobile.
Jayne Humphreys, a qualified holistic therapist, will be in store offering advice on holistic treatments and free hand massages as part of a special event taking place on June 18.
``The government wants our members to accept what is likely to be an inferior pension and the proposals allow government a free hand to increase civil servants' contribution rates whenever they like, '' he said.
The United States cannot preserve an open and democratic society when one branch of government has a free hand to shut down public access to information."
He taped his thumb to the egg-shaped device and called the police with his free hand. Emergency services rushed to the 40year-old, in Coltishall, Norfolk, and buried his hand in a bid to lessen any damage.
After a month or so, God only knows if there will be left any Arafat, Abu Mazen or PA if Sharon is given a free hand to act against us during the war on Iraq".
MICHAEL Atherton believes England coach Duncan Fletcher should be given a free hand to take the national team forward.
Starting his own label may work out well for him, but it will be interesting to see if he signs up any unknowns and gives them a totally free hand, which is what he appears to want the major labels to do.
In exchange, Republicans promised to give Democrats a free hand in politics in the South.