excessive leeway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive leeway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is given too much freedom or flexibility in making decisions or taking actions. Example: "The manager provided excessive leeway in the project guidelines, leading to confusion among the team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

After six years of excessive and misdirected tax cuts, there is virtually no leeway to cut taxes further to stimulate consumption.

The New York Times

It buys you leeway.

Yale University

Give us some leeway".

The New York Times

The bureau has some leeway.

The New York Times

LEEWAY COTTAGE, by Beth Gutcheon.

The New York Times

Perhaps too much leeway.

The Guardian - Opinion

There's no leeway".

The New York Times - Sports

Deficits provided extra leeway.

The Washington Post

How much leeway do I have?

The New York Times - Magazine

Excessive C.E.O.

The New York Times - Magazine

Excessive tobacco.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive leeway", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative consequences or potential risks associated with the overabundance of freedom. Provide specific examples to support your claim that the leeway is, in fact, excessive.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive leeway" without providing concrete evidence or reasoning to support why the leeway is considered excessive. Simply stating it is excessive without justification weakens your argument. Be specific about the negative impact or potential problems arising from this excessive freedom.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive leeway" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "leeway". It describes the degree or extent of freedom or flexibility granted. While Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness, the phrase's impact depends on context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive leeway" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express concern over an overabundance of freedom or flexibility. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, its effectiveness relies on context and justification. It is most frequently found in News & Media, and to a lesser extent in academic and formal contexts. When using this phrase, provide clear evidence of negative consequences arising from the excessive freedom to strengthen your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excessive freedom

A more direct and simpler alternative, replacing "leeway" with "freedom".

Undue latitude

Replaces "excessive" with "undue" and "leeway" with "latitude", suggesting an inappropriate or unjustified amount of freedom.

Unwarranted flexibility

Substitutes "leeway" with "flexibility" and "excessive" with "unwarranted", indicating the flexibility is not justified or deserved.

Inordinate discretion

Replaces "leeway" with "discretion" and "excessive" with "inordinate", emphasizing the excessiveness in decision-making power.

Too much rope

This is an idiomatic expression that means giving someone so much freedom that they are likely to get into trouble.

Overly permissive

Focuses on the act of granting too much freedom, rather than the freedom itself.

Unreasonable freedom

Directly states that the freedom given is not reasonable or justifiable.

Uncontrolled license

Conveys the idea that the freedom is not being properly managed or supervised.

Extravagant liberty

Emphasizes the lavish or unrestrained nature of the freedom granted.

Unlimited scope

Suggests a lack of boundaries or limitations in the allowed actions.

FAQs

What does "excessive leeway" mean?

Excessive leeway refers to a situation where someone is given too much freedom or flexibility, often leading to negative consequences, misuse, or a lack of accountability.

What are some synonyms for "excessive leeway"?

Alternatives to "excessive leeway" include "undue latitude", "unwarranted flexibility", or "inordinate discretion", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "excessive leeway"?

Use "excessive leeway" when you want to emphasize that the amount of freedom or flexibility given is not only large but also detrimental or inappropriate for the situation.

What is the difference between "excessive leeway" and simply "leeway"?

"Leeway" implies some degree of freedom or flexibility, whereas "excessive leeway" indicates that the amount of freedom is too much and is causing or likely to cause problems.