take the liberty
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English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU): (file)
Verb[edit]
take the liberty (third-person singular simple present takes the liberty, present participle taking the liberty, simple past took the liberty, past participle taken the liberty)
- (idiomatic) To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.
- I took the liberty of adding your name to the list.
- 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →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.
Usage notes[edit]
Typically used as take the liberty of doing something.
Translations[edit]
act on one’s own authority
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