within rights

within (one's) rights

Being allowed by the law to do something or behave a certain way. I'm sorry, sir, but he's within his rights to put these signs on his lawn, even if you find them offensive. They were well within their rights to deny entry to the man, who they claimed was intoxicated and unruly.
See also: right, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*within one's rights

acting legally in one's own interest. (*Typically: be ~; act ~.) I know I am within my rights when I make this request. You are not within your rights!
See also: right, within
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • the rules of the game
  • on a pedestal, put
  • place (someone or something) (up) on a pedestal
  • put (someone or something) (up) on a pedestal
  • put someone on a pedestal
  • put/set/place somebody on a pedestal
  • set (someone or something) (up) on a pedestal
  • be given to (something)
  • be given to something/to doing something
  • do unto others
References in periodicals archive
The head of the governance and legal unit, John Stolliday, wrote: "I think the party would be well within rights to prevent this person attending party events as more young people may potentially be put in that compromising position."
As the public's appetite for cellular communication grows, the state of Illinois has tried to meet that demand with a new law allowing "small cell" installations within rights of way and on private property throughout the state to accommodate the rollout of a 5G telecommunications network.
During discussions on the issue at a Women Rights Caucus meeting at Fordham Law School leaders of some of the organisations whose members were denied visas argued that the applicants "often'' have been denied visas "based on harmful perceptions and stereotypes due to their age, marital status, and perceived socio-economic standing and whether live in the rural or urban areas.''"Young unmarried women especially who are a tremendous galvanising within rights movement face the near impossible task of securing a United States visa that if granted, would enable them to bring to the foyer pertinent discussions around the state of gender equality globally,'' the statement calling for action said.
An Arriva spokesperson said: "Arriva's policy states that drivers are within rights to ask a passenger to disembark if they believe there may be a health and safety risk.
Jesdev Saggar, managing director of 3 Associates, responded: "The Roy family are within rights to reject the bid and we will choose to ignore the emotionally charged responses."
Would the Germans have been within rights to shoot him had they captured him?
Repeat that: Wales are a No.1 European seed, standing within rights next to Germany and the Netherlands.
AT&T shot back in January attempting to have that suit thrown out, arguing that the company was within rights protected by the Communication Act to control the flow of data over their networks, and that any violation of that right was a matter for the Federal Communications Commission to decide, rather than the FTC.
When informed of the complaint, Sanchez shrugged it off as "normal" and "within rights" of the protesters.
This is not the dream vehicle Armn -- or anyone -- would want for a Bollywood foray (in Armn's case, though, you would be perfectly within rights to wonder if the boy is ready for a launch at all).
Tuesday was the last date for Tiwari to voluntarily give his blood sample failing which the officials would have been within rights to force him.