take the liberty
English edit
Pronunciation edit
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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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