free hand

American  

noun

1. unrestricted freedom or authority.

   They gave the decorator a free hand.

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free hand British  

noun

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

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adjective

1. (done) by hand without the use of guiding instruments

   a freehand drawing

free hand Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of free hand

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A new chairman is imposed on a department with a free hand to make whatever appointments he thinks necessary to restore the department to health.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

"So I had a free hand to launch reforms, as long as Spain's unity was not endangered."

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

In the prior regime, Sheridan had been given a free hand creatively and on spending, which Ellison and his new executive team had reportedly signaled might not continue in the same way.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 29, 2025

Last month the transport committee of the European parliament voted to give passengers the right to an extra piece of free hand luggage weighing up to 7kg.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2025

She reaches her free hand out like she’s going to stroke my cheek, but then she folds it back in her lap.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish