pattern

Decision & Control - Dependency

Dive into English idioms regarding dependency, like "have the run of" and "above the law".

Review

Flashcards

Quiz

Start learning
English idioms related to Decision & Control
(as|) free as a bird

allowed complete freedom to do whatever one desires

Ex: After finishing his exams, he felt as free as a bird. 
Close
Sign in
blank check

completely free to act as one wishes

Ex: The board gave her a blank check to restructure the company. 
Close
Sign in
free hand
free hand
[noun]

the state in which one is completely free to do what one desires without any worries or disturbances

Ex: The new CEO was given a free hand to rebuild the company. 
Close
Sign in
free rein
free rein
[noun]

the state in which one is completely free to do or say what one desires

Ex: The editor gave the writer free rein to say exactly what she thought. 
Close
Sign in
to [be] {one's} own (master|mistress)

‌to do what one pleases, free of control and interference of others

Ex: After years of working under strict managers, she finally became her own mistress. 
Close
Sign in
to [let] {sb/sth} loose

to allow someone to be completely free to do whatever they want

Ex: The director let the designers loose, and they completely transformed the space. 
Close
Sign in
to [loosen] {one's} (grip|hold)

to fail to control a person or thing as strictly as one did before

Ex: The government began to loosen its grip on the media. 
Close
Sign in
to [hold] the key to {sth}

to be the determining factor of something, particularly by making its occurrence or success possible

Ex: Better training holds the key to improving patient care. 
Close
Sign in
to [paddle] {one's} own canoe

to manage one's own affairs and take responsibility for one's own actions and decisions

Ex: After moving out, he had to paddle his own canoe for the first time. 
Close
Sign in
to [cut] the (umbilical|) cord

to start behaving independently instead of relying on others for help or support

Ex: At twenty-five, he finally cut the cord and moved into his own apartment. 
Close
Sign in
to [hold] {one's} own

to be able to successfully defend oneself against harsh criticism or in difficult situations

Ex: She held her own during the interview, even when the questions became aggressive. 
Close
Sign in
to [have] a mind of {one's} own

to be capable of making one's own decisions without being influenced by others

Ex: She has a mind of her own and will not agree just to please people. 
Close
Sign in
master of {one's} own (fate|destiny)

someone who has complete control over their decisions, particularly those concerning the future

Ex: After starting her own business, she felt like the master of her own destiny. 
Close
Sign in
off {one's} own bat

without receiving any help or support from others

Ex: She finished the project off her own bat, without asking anyone for help. 
Close
Sign in
to [have] the run of {sth}

to have the freedom to go anywhere one wants in a particular place

Ex: As a child, I had the run of my grandparents' farm every summer. 
Close
Sign in
to [leave] {sb} to {one's} own devices

to let a person do as they wish without trying to help or control them

Ex: When the teacher left the students to their own devices, they started making noise. 
Close
Sign in
to hang {one's} hat on {sth}

to rely on a particular thing in order to help and support one

Ex: She hung her hat on her experience when applying for the senior role. 
Close
Sign in
above the law

not bound by the legal rules and consequences that others must follow

Ex: No politician should be treated as if they are above the law. 
Close
Sign in
to [ride] on {one's} coattails

to benefit from another's success or achievements, often without contributing much themselves

Ex: He got promoted by riding on his manager's coattails instead of proving himself. 
Close
Sign in
tied to {one's} apron strings

(of a grown adult) excessively dependent on or controlled by someone else, usually a parent or a partner

Ex: He is thirty, but he is still tied to his mother's apron strings. 
Close
Sign in
by the sweat of {one's} [brow]

through one's hard work

Ex: He built the business by the sweat of his brow, not with family money. 
Close
Sign in
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app