given the green light to start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "given the green light to start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that permission has been granted to begin a project or task. Example: "After weeks of planning, we were finally given the green light to start the new marketing campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Chinese company was given the green light to start building in February 2011, with a completion scheduled in November 2014.

Independent

But the 31-year-old admitted she had not had enough time to prepare, having been given the green light to start running again by doctors only 12 weeks ago following a frustrating 18 months away from competitive racing.

The Guardian - Sport

Sam Allardyce has been given the green light to start talks about taking Carroll, 23, to West Ham on a season-long loan.

BBC

La Cañada Unified School District officials have been given the green light to start preparing a new facilities master plan, which could be a precursor to the district's placing a general obligation bond measure before voters in November 2017.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Before a producer gives you the green light to start a script, you have to write something called a "treatment" – a few pages "selling" your story.

The Guardian

The PPS decision gives us the green light to start that campaign through the civil courts.

The Guardian

Certainly Bowie gave me the green light to start exploring my own sexuality.

The Guardian - Music

The DOE decision doesn't quite give researchers the green light to start construction.

Science Magazine

(The S.E.C just gave it the green light to start lending again on Tuesday).

TechCrunch

(According to the Nofence site, the Norwegian animal welfare authorities gave Nofence the green light to start testing its system in autumn 2014).

Forbes

Once the City of Florence gives Mr. Seracini the green light to start testing, he said he would proceed with the gamma-camera technique first.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "given the green light to start", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the permission and what action is being permitted. For example, "The board of directors gave the project team the green light to start the pilot program."

Common error

Avoid assuming that receiving the "green light" implies unlimited resources or unrestricted action. It's essential to clarify the specific parameters and limitations associated with the permission granted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "given the green light to start" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating that permission or approval has been granted to commence an activity. Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science & Research

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "given the green light to start" is an idiomatic phrase used to express that permission or approval has been granted to begin a task or project. While Ludwig identifies it as grammatically correct, it is of uncommon frequency. Predominantly used in news, business, and scientific contexts, this phrase conveys a sense of authorization. Consider using more formal alternatives like "authorized to begin" or more informal options, depending on the intended audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorized to begin

Indicates formal permission has been granted; focuses on the authorization aspect.

approved to commence

Emphasizes the approval aspect; "commence" is more formal than "start".

given the go-ahead to begin

Uses a more colloquial term, "go-ahead", for permission.

permitted to initiate

Highlights the permission to start; "initiate" is more formal.

cleared to proceed

Focuses on overcoming obstacles and being allowed to move forward.

sanctioned to start

Suggests official endorsement or approval.

empowered to act

Indicates having the authority and power to take action.

licensed to operate

Implies that a legal document or license has been issued.

given clearance to launch

Suggests preparation of product/project.

given permission to execute

Conveys a sense of formal approval to perform an action

FAQs

What does "given the green light to start" mean?

The phrase "given the green light to start" means that someone has been granted permission or approval to begin a project, task, or activity.

How can I use "given the green light to start" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "After months of planning, the company was finally "authorized to begin" the new marketing campaign".

Which is more formal, "given the green light to start" or "approved to commence"?

"Approved to commence" is generally considered more formal due to the use of the word "commence" which is a more formal synonym for "start".

What are some alternatives to "given the green light to start"?

Some alternatives include ""authorized to begin"", "given the go-ahead to begin", or "permitted to initiate", depending on the context and level of formality required.