free rein

American

noun

unhampered freedom of movement, choice, or action.

Students have free rein to choose their own class schedules.

free rein Idioms

see free hand.

Etymology

Origin of free rein

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I got free rein on the internet basically. So I think that for me, the damage has already been done."

From BBC

Sephora gave shoppers free rein to schmear on lipstick and play with eye shadow.

From The Wall Street Journal

In portraying Jesus, Mary and Joseph with patchwork cloth lacking facial features, artist Victoria-Maria Geyer said she hoped to craft an inclusive version of the Christmas tradition which left "free rein for everyone's imagination".

From Barron's

Bulgaria has given free rein to administrator Spetsov to sell the refinery with the government's consent.

From Barron's

All in all, it seemed to Penelope that a modest amount of optimism could safely be given free rein.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023