give (one) free rein

To give one complete freedom to do what one wants or chooses. "Rein" refers to the reins of a horse. Can you believe the boss gave me free rein on this project? Finally, I can present a campaign with my own vision! It seems ludicrous that the government would give a megacorporation like them free rein with so much funding. Whoa, you don't have to get your topic approved by the professor? She really gave you free rein on this one?

give someone free rein

give someone a free rein

COMMON If you give someone free rein or give someone a free rein, you give them all the freedom they want or need to do something. Note: The reference in these expressions is to a rider using the reins to control a horse. He was given free rein to manage the project as he wished. Much to her delight, she was given a free rein to decorate the house exactly as she wanted. Note: You can also say that you allow someone free reign. The artists were allowed free rein to produce what they thought fitted the space. Note: You can also say that you have free rein. The children have free rein to choose the subjects that they want to study.

give/allow somebody/something free/full ˈrein

give/allow free/full ˈrein to somebody/something

not restrict, limit or control something: In a novel the author need not keep to the facts, but a textbook is not the place to give free rein to your imagination. OPPOSITE: keep a tight rein on somebody/something

A rein is a long leather band that is fastened around a horse’s neck and used by the rider to control the speed of the horse.

See also: allow, free, full, give, rein, somebody, something

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