take liberties

Verb

Meaning

(idiomatic) To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.

(idiomatic) To behave disrespectfully, especially to make unwanted sexual advances.

Antonyms

Examples

One ought not to be unkind to a woman merely on account of her plainness, any more than one had a right to take liberties with her merely because she was handsome. Murasaki Shikibu

Don't be afraid to take liberties with this music. Try and put some of yourself into it. Brian Setzer

I do not use the language of my people. I can take liberties with certain themes which the Arabic language would not allow me to take. Tahar Ben Jelloun

That's what sailing is, a dance, and your partner is the sea. And with the sea you never take liberties. You ask her, you don't tell her. You have to remember always that she's the leader, not you. You and your boat are dancing to her tune. Michael Morpurgo

There is nothing with which it is so dangerous to take liberties as liberty itself. André Breton

Power tempts even the best of men to take liberties with the truth. Joseph Sobran

Close letter words and terms