take license

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take license' can be used in written English.
It typically means to give oneself permission to do something. For example: "Jill decided to take license to explore the unfamiliar path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But Schwarzenegger knows he can take license with the truth, and particularly in complex subjects like fiscal measures and workers'-compensation reform, where no critique will resonate with the public in the face of the power of his performance.

The New Yorker

Novelists are allowed to take license.

Duke University

Some, misconstruing Genesis' exhortation "to have dominion over the earth," take license to abuse the earth.

Huffington Post

We do have teasing and joking issues where people take license with things they think are funny and others don't perceive it that way.

Los Angeles Times

Weiner's letter included him telling reporters that, "Although we take license for artistic purposes with the end-title music, we never want the source music to break from the time period we are trying to recreate.

Wikipedia

"Although we take license for artistic purposes with the end-title music, we never want the source music to break from the time period we are trying to recreate," Weiner said at the time to the New York Times in an email.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

instructor with 45 years of riding experience, will take licensed riders of any ability for street or dirt bike training in the Los Angeles area.

The New York Times

One of the accused was convicted in 1997, along with 90 other stock brokers, of bribing others to take licensing tests for them.

The New York Times

Micro Electronics agreed to take licenses for itself and its subsidiaries on a range of the firm's miniaturized chip package technology.

Forbes

We hear from a lot of boards that they would love to take licenses away from people doing conversion therapy".

Vice

Take licensing classes.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take license" when you want to express that someone is giving themselves permission to deviate from the norm or usual practice. For example, artists often "take license" with historical details for dramatic effect.

Common error

Avoid using "take license" to justify unethical or illegal actions. The phrase implies a deviation from established norms, not a complete disregard for rules or laws.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "take license" is as a verb phrase. It typically functions as the main verb within a clause, describing the act of granting oneself permission to deviate from established norms or rules. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take license" signifies the act of granting oneself permission, often to deviate from established norms or rules. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable in written English and is commonly found in news and media, as well as wiki and academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the context and ensure that the deviation is appropriate and doesn't violate ethical or legal boundaries. Remember that alternative phrases, such as "grant oneself permission" or "assume liberty", may be more suitable in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grant oneself permission

Highlights the act of giving oneself the go-ahead.

assume liberty

Emphasizes the act of assuming freedom or liberty to act.

indulge in freedom

Focuses on allowing oneself a degree of liberty.

exercise freedom

Focuses on actively using one's freedom or right.

feel free to

Implies informality in allowing an action.

appropriate the right

Highlights the act of taking or claiming a specific right.

deem appropriate

Focuses on judging something as suitable or permitted.

presume entitlement

Implies an assumption of being entitled to something.

regard as permissible

Emphasizes the aspect of considering something as allowable.

arrogate authority

Suggests seizing or claiming authority without justification.

FAQs

What does "take license" mean?

The phrase "take license" means to allow oneself a degree of freedom, especially in deviating from established rules or facts. It suggests assuming permission or authority to do something.

How can I use "take license" in a sentence?

You can use "take license" to indicate that someone is deviating from strict accuracy or established norms. For example: "The director chose to "grant oneself permission" with historical details to enhance the story."

What are some alternatives to "take license"?

Some alternatives to "take license" include "assume liberty", "exercise freedom", or "grant oneself permission" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "took license" instead of "take license"?

Yes, "took license" is the past tense form of the verb phrase. You would use "took" when referring to a past action: "The artist "assumed liberty" with the color palette in his latest painting."