get (some amount of) elbow room

1. To find, acquire, or create enough space in an area to move around easily or be unencumbered. The zoo announced that the primates would be getting some extra elbow room following the new expansion to their enclosure. This national park is not frequented by many tourists, so it's a great spot to get a bit of elbow room on your next weekend excursion. The train to the city is always so crowded on weekdays. It's hard to get any elbow room at all.

2. To acquire the freedom and ability to act as one wants. We'll get some elbow room to expand the scope of the business if we are awarded the grant by the city council. Well, you're her cabinet—if you think she's gotten too much elbow room as student council president, you should impose limitations. My creative teams always get as much elbow room as they need to see their visions become realities.