allow

allow/give someone (a) free rein

to allow someone to do what they want or go where they want to. The older kids were given free rein to do whatever they wanted. (often + to do something) We shut the kitten out of the bedroom but allowed her free rein in the rest of the apartment.

See also: free, give, rein

allow/give something (a) free rein

if you give ideas or emotions free rein, you allow them to develop and do not try to control them. With all these materials available, we can give our creativity free rein.

See also: free, give, rein

allow/give something full play

if something is given full play, it is used or developed as much as possible. The themes of love and bereavement are given full play in Oliver's new novel. He urges that market forces should be allowed full play in the villages.

See also: full, give, play

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allow for something

to consider particular facts that relate to something. If you own stock, you must allow for the possibility that it will lose value.

take something into account

make allowances for someone/something