# take the liberty

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-the-liberty
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- I took the liberty of ordering coffee for everyone.
- Since you were busy in a meeting, I took the liberty of answering your emails.
- The assistant took the liberty of adjusting the schedule to ensure the guest arrived on time for the presentation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.