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Showing results for by-your-leave. Search instead for out-of-your-league.

by-your-leave

American  
[bahy-yer-leev] / ˈbaɪ yərˈliv /

noun

  1. an apology for not having sought permission.


by-your-leave British  

noun

  1. a request for permission (esp in the phrase without so much as a by-your-leave )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of by-your-leave

First recorded in 1910–15

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.

If Chris’ idea of “doing you a favor” is unilaterally telling your kid “Hey, call me Dad” without so much as a by-your-leave beforehand, I’m concerned about what else he might think is a favor.

From Slate • Nov. 28, 2020

Her health minister harrumphed about international “free agents” doing as they pleased without so much as a by-your-leave from the Liberian government.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2014

Not content with this bizarre behavior, and without so much as a by-your-leave, he proceeded to distribute pieces of my entree onto the plates of the other diners.

From Slate • May 18, 2013

They could sell their apartments to tenants�or outside buyers�as "cooperatives," without so much as a by-your-leave from ORC.

From Time Magazine Archive

Without so much as a knock or a by-your-leave, he stalked through the door, brushing past me, eased the saddle to the floor, and, seeing nothing but her, moved down the hall toward Miss Love.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns