Idioms

carte blanche

This page is about the idiom 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

a. exactly the way he was told to

b. according to the guidelines

c. using whatever methods he liked
a) exactly the way he was told to b) according to the guidelines c) using whatever methods he liked

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey