free rein

noun

1. unhampered freedom of movement, choice, or action.

   Students have free rein to choose their own class schedules.

Word History and Origins

Origin of free rein¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Idioms and Phrases

see free hand.

Example Sentences

“It’s developed into what I do anytime I’m given free rein to teach theater to kids.”

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Unlike the case of Colbert, who has largely been given relatively free rein to cover controversial topics without network oversight, “The Smothers Brothers” was almost always in conflict with CBS’s censors.

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With little to no research publicly available on how high-velocity-and-movement training methods are hurting or — albeit highly unlikely — helping pitchers’ elbows and shoulders, Meister said, it’s often free rein with little — if any — guardrails.

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In other words, the president should have free rein to do as he pleases.

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A majority of this scale is an insurance policy, not free rein.

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