within rights

within (one's) rights

Being allowed by the law to do something or behave a certain way. I'm sorry, sir, but he's within his rights to put these signs on his lawn, even if you find them offensive. They were well within their rights to deny entry to the man, who they claimed was intoxicated and unruly.

See also: right, within

*within one's rights

acting legally in one's own interest. (*Typically: be ~; act ~.) I know I am within my rights when I make this request. You are not within your rights!

See also: right, within