take the liberty of

Idioms  

1. Act on one's own authority without permission from another, as in I took the liberty of forwarding the mail to his summer address. It is also put as take the liberty to, as in He took the liberty to address the Governor by her first name. This rather formal locution was first recorded in 1625 and does not imply the opprobrium of the similar-sounding take liberties.

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Example Sentences

“Now that he’s gone, let’s take the liberty of contradicting him, and keep his memory alive in our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions,” Mangrum wrote.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2018

YAt the request of some of my most particular friends, I take the liberty of inserting it here.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2015

And because she says so much of what I want to say, I’m going to take the liberty of quoting her at length:

From Forbes • Sep. 1, 2014

“It was a wonderful experience seeing them take the liberty of running with the idea and being accountable for producing it,” said Virgilio Bravo, the institute’s director of education.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2014

“May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well.”

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen