Carte blanche: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Carte blanche noun. Complete freedom to act as you think best.
How to say it
kart BLONSH/ˌkɑːt ˈblɒ̃ʃ/
2 syllables, stressed on the second (BLONSH).
Carte blanche in a sentence
The new chef was given carte blanche to rewrite the menu.
Never give a toddler carte blanche with a pot of glitter.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- free rein
- free hand
- licence
- blank cheque
Opposite:
- restriction
Where carte blanche comes from
French for blank paper: a signed sheet the holder could fill in as they liked.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Never give a toddler _____ with a pot of glitter.
- carte blanche
- amour propre
- roman à clef
Show the answer
carte blanche: Never give a toddler carte blanche with a pot of glitter.