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Vocabulary : Idioms : C : carte blanche

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carte blanche Formal

Meaning: If you give someone carte blanche, you give them freedom to do whatever they want in a situation.

For example:

  • The boss has given us carte blanche to redecorate the offices.

  • The president gave his generals carte blanche to fight the war however they wished.

Origin: Originally borrowed from French. A literal translation would be "white (or blank) paper".

Quick Quiz:

He was given carte blanche to teach the new staff
  1. exactly the way he was told to
  2. according to the guidelines
  3. using whatever methods he liked

Discuss: carte blanche

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