take the liberty

English

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

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, James Joyce, Ulysses Episode 12, The Cyclops
  —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

Typically used as take the liberty of doing something.

Translations

act on one's own authority

Chinese:
Mandarin: please add this translation if you can
Czech: dovolit si (cs)
Finnish: ottaa vapaus
French: prendre la liberté (fr)
German: sich erlauben (de), sich die Freiheit nehmen

Greek: παίρνω το θάρρος (paírno to thárros), παίρνω την πρωτοβουλία (paírno tin protovoulía)
Polish: pozwalać sobie (pl)
Portuguese: tomar a liberdade
Russian: брать на себя́ сме́лость impf (bratʹ na sebjá smélostʹ), взять на себя́ сме́лость pf (vzjatʹ na sebjá smélostʹ), позволя́ть себе́ (ru) impf (pozvoljátʹ sebé), позво́лить себе́ (ru) pf (pozvólitʹ sebé)
Swedish: ta sig friheten

See also

take liberties

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