ENGLISH
REFERENCE

take liberties

idiom
Meaning

To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.


Examples
SIMPLE

Please do not take liberties with my equipment.

CONTEXTUAL

The intern took liberties by changing the project deadline without asking the manager for permission first.

COMPLEX

The director took liberties with the original script, altering the ending significantly to suit his own artistic vision.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be taken ill

    To become ill.

  2. 02

    cross to take up

    Alternative form of cross to bear.

  3. 03

    forget to take one's medication this morning

    To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.

  4. 04

    get taken in

    To be fooled; to fall for.

  5. 05

    give and take

    A process of compromise or accommodation.

  6. 06

    give someone an inch and someone will take a mile

    Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

  7. 07

    have one's name taken

    To receive a yellow card.

  8. 08

    I take it

    Used to express one's understanding of another's position.

Last updated April 17, 2026