freedom

freedom of maneuver

The space and ability to make changes to something. Hurry up! We don't have much freedom of maneuver in our schedule! When you're dealing with kids, you have to build in some freedom of maneuver, because they certainly move at their own pace. A: "Please tell me we have some freedom of maneuver with the conference room today." B: "We do. Would 1:00 or 3:00 work better for you?"

See also: freedom, maneuver, of

freedom of speech

The right to express one's opinion without censorship or other forms of punishment imposed by the government. In the United States, freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. The editor does not want to print my controversial article, but I'm pushing for it to appear in the next issue—what about freedom of speech? Freedom of speech came at a price for those protestors, as the crowd responded to them violently. Freedom of speech is clearly under threat here if you were arrested simply for speaking your mind!

See also: freedom, of, speech

give (one) (one's) freedom

To free or release one from something, such as a situation or agreement. If you're not in love with Gloria, then you need to give her her freedom—it's only fair. This living arrangement just isn't working out—I have to give Ben his freedom. You guys are barely playing him anyway, so why not give him his freedom and let him sign with another team?

See also: freedom, give

room for/to maneuver

The space and ability to make changes to something. Hurry up! We don't have much room to maneuver in our schedule!

See also: for, maneuver, room, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

give one one's freedom

to set someone free; to divorce someone. Mrs. Brown wanted to give her husband his freedom. Well, Tom, I hate to break it to you this way, but I have decided to give you your freedom.

See also: freedom, give, one

*(a) right to do something

 and *(the) right to do something

the freedom to do something; the legal or moral permission or license to do something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; You don't have the right to enter my home without my permission. I have a right to grow anything I want on my farmland.

See also: right, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

freedom of/room for maˈnoeuvre

the chance to change the way that something happens and influence decisions that are made: Small businesses have limited room for manoeuvre.

See also: for, freedom, manoeuvre, of, room

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017