free hand

noun

1. unrestricted freedom or authority.

   They gave the decorator a free hand.

free hand

noun

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

adjective

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

   a freehand drawing

Word History and Origins

Origin of free hand¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

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.