not at liberty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not at liberty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is not allowed to disclose information or is not free to act in a certain way. Example: "I'm sorry, but I am not at liberty to discuss the details of the agreement at this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He insisted to Cushing that they not be published or widely circulated, because he was not "at liberty to make the letters public".

Wikipedia

Justice William Douglas wrote in the opinion that the court was not "at liberty to diffuse the powers" given to the FAA and EPA.

Los Angeles Times

He specifically wrote that they should be seen only by a few people, and that he was not "at liberty to make the letters public".

Wikipedia

I'm not at liberty to discuss that".

The Guardian

"I'm not at liberty to discuss it".

The New York Times

"I'm not at liberty to go into details," MacAuley said.

The Washington Post

A I'm not at liberty to share that.

The New York Times

"I really am not at liberty to discuss that".

The New York Times

I'm not at liberty to talk about that any more".

The Guardian

"Jihad, I'm not at liberty to do that".

The New York Times - Magazine

"I'm not at liberty to say that at this point," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not at liberty" when you want to politely decline to provide information, implying a restriction rather than unwillingness.

Common error

Avoid using "not at liberty" as a blanket excuse to avoid answering questions when you simply don't want to. It should genuinely reflect a restriction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not at liberty" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a state of being restricted or constrained, typically regarding the ability to disclose information. As shown by Ludwig, this is very common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not at liberty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to politely decline sharing information due to restrictions. Ludwig examples show it's primarily employed in news, academic and wiki contexts. Alternatives such as "unable to disclose" can be used for similar effect. It's important to employ the phrase accurately, reflecting genuine constraints rather than personal unwillingness. As Ludwig AI also confirms, its usage is both valid and informative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to disclose

This alternative focuses on the inability to reveal information.

not permitted to say

This phrase emphasizes the lack of permission to speak about something.

restricted from disclosing

Highlights the restriction preventing the sharing of information.

cannot reveal

A simpler way of stating the inability to reveal something.

not authorized to share

Emphasizes the lack of official approval to share information.

bound by confidentiality

Implies a legal or ethical obligation to keep information secret.

under a non-disclosure agreement

More formal, explicitly mentions a legal agreement.

prohibited from discussing

Indicates a formal ban on discussing a topic.

can't go into details

A more informal way of saying one cannot provide specific information.

not in a position to divulge

Highlights that the speaker's current situation prevents them from revealing information.

FAQs

What does "not at liberty" mean?

The phrase "not at liberty" means that someone is restricted or not allowed to do something, typically to disclose information. It suggests an external constraint rather than a personal choice.

What can I say instead of "not at liberty"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to disclose", "restricted from disclosing", or "cannot reveal" depending on the context.

Is "not at liberty to" formal or informal?

The phrase "not at liberty to" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for professional and polite contexts, without being overly stiff.

How can I use "not at liberty" in a sentence?

Example: "I'm afraid I'm "not at liberty" to share the details of the ongoing investigation." It implies you have information but are prevented from sharing it.