carte blanche

(kärt bläNsh', blänch', blănch')
n., pl., cartes blanches (kärt bläNsh', kärts blänch', blănch').
Unrestricted power to act at one's own discretion; unconditional authority: gave the contractor carte blanche to modernize the kitchen.

[French : carte, ticket + blanche, blank.]

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A blank check, or full authority to act, for example to write one’s own job description, carry out a project according to one’s own discretion and using one’s own creativity, and so on. When one is assigned a job and given carte blanche, the methods used to perform the job are guaranteed to be acceptable.

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A French term meaning “blank document.” Carte blanche is commonly used in English to refer to a check that has been signed but does not have a dollar amount written in. The recipient of such a check then writes in whatever dollar amount he or she wants/needs.

 

Investopedia Says:

The term carte blanche is more commonly used figuratively than literally. It usually means someone in power has given someone else the unconditional authority to spend money in a given situation and/or make decisions about that situation. This term is commonly used in politics and business. Carte blanche arrangements are often a bad idea because of their high potential for abuse.

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IN BRIEF: Unrestricted power to act on one's own.

The guests had carte blanche when ordering at that restaurant.

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For a list of words related to carte blanche, see:

• French - carte blanche: unrestricted authority or access
• Approval, Respect, and Recognition - carte blanche: full discretionary power; unconditional authority

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See words rhyming with "carte blanche."