Dictionary

take the liberty en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.
   • The dials are all bunkum. While you were playing I took the liberty of altering them and for a whole hand the dials indicated that you must inevitably be holding eight clubs and four spades. All the time you were leading out hearts and diamonds and the automaton serenely followed suit. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
   • —What about Dignam? says Bob Doran. Who's talking about ...? / —Dead! says Alf. He's no more dead than you are. / —Maybe so, says Joe. They took the liberty of burying him this morning anyhow. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
   • I took the liberty of adding your name to the list.

Forms

Relateds

take liberties

Translations (15)

ru брать на себя́ сме́лость (act on one’s own authority) · ru позволя́ть себе́ (act on one’s own authority) · cs dovolit si (act on one’s own authority) · ru позво́лить себе́ (act on one’s own authority) · el παίρνω το θάρρος (act on one’s own authority) · fr prendre la liberté (act on one’s own authority) · pt tomar a liberdade (act on one’s own authority) · fi ottaa vapaus (act on one’s own authority) · pl pozwalać sobie (act on one’s own authority) · el παίρνω την πρωτοβουλία (act on one’s own authority) · de sich die Freiheit nehmen (act on one’s own authority) · ru взять на себя́ сме́лость (act on one’s own authority) · is taka sér bessaleyfi (act on one’s own authority) · sv ta sig friheten (act on one’s own authority) · de sich erlauben (act on one’s own authority)