a free hand
noun
: the freedom to do things and make decisions without being controlled by another
Her father gave her a free hand in running the family business.
Examples of a free hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If Harris quickly becomes the nominee-in-waiting, Democrats would probably defer to her (and Biden) on the running mate selection, just as Trump had a free hand in choosing the Republican running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
—
Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 July 2024
This doesn’t mean that India should give China a free hand in South Asia.
—Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2024
The progressive movement has done nothing but given the criminals a free hand to rob, kill and destroy our cities.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 June 2024
Both Cardoso and Lula also protected Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry from political pressure, giving them a free hand to pursue policies that helped the economy stabilize and then grow.
—Eduardo Mello, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2016
The judge and the voting commissioners don’t have to pick one proposal or another; the CPUC has a free hand to accept, reject, combine or alter any recommendations — or even come up with its own plan from scratch.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024
The good news is, even if nobody has a free hand, snow makes a great cupholder.
—Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
This is one of the few areas where teams are allowed a free hand under the rulebook.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 3 Feb. 2024
Given a free hand by the university’s president, Kingman Brewster Jr., to revitalize it, Mr. Brustein brought in new teachers, opened the school to undergraduates and revised the curriculum to emphasize not only fundamentals of performance but also the intellectual literature of the theater.
—Bruce Weber, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 July 2024
This doesn’t mean that India should give China a free hand in South Asia.
—Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2024
The progressive movement has done nothing but given the criminals a free hand to rob, kill and destroy our cities.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 June 2024
Both Cardoso and Lula also protected Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry from political pressure, giving them a free hand to pursue policies that helped the economy stabilize and then grow.
—Eduardo Mello, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2016
The judge and the voting commissioners don’t have to pick one proposal or another; the CPUC has a free hand to accept, reject, combine or alter any recommendations — or even come up with its own plan from scratch.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024
The good news is, even if nobody has a free hand, snow makes a great cupholder.
—Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
This is one of the few areas where teams are allowed a free hand under the rulebook.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 3 Feb. 2024
Given a free hand by the university’s president, Kingman Brewster Jr., to revitalize it, Mr. Brustein brought in new teachers, opened the school to undergraduates and revised the curriculum to emphasize not only fundamentals of performance but also the intellectual literature of the theater.
—Bruce Weber, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near a free hand
Cite this Entry
“A free hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20free%20hand. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share