too much leeway

USAGE SUMMARY

"too much leeway" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that someone has been given excessive freedom or discretion in doing something. For example, "I do not think the teacher should give the students too much leeway in their assignments, otherwise they won't learn the proper lessons."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Perhaps too much leeway.

The Guardian - Opinion

The director, Mr. Andress, has allowed too much leeway.

The New York Times

Some films, I think, afforded him too much leeway in that respect.

The New Yorker

"As a society we have allowed far too much leeway for companies.

The Guardian

But we fear they may still give banks too much leeway.

The New York Times

Departments still have too much leeway to do their own thing and do it badly.

The Guardian

Everyone [newspapers] had too much leeway, there was nobody intervening at all as a result".

The Guardian

And it would also give people way too much leeway, critics say.

The New York Times

It has overlearned the lessons of the Clinton-care debacle and given Congress too much leeway.

The New York Times

Obama admitted that the N.S.A. has had "too much leeway to do whatever it wanted or could".

The New Yorker

And if you throw off the delicate ratios in that community, the bad actors might get too much leeway.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too much leeway", clearly specify who is granting the excessive freedom and who is receiving it, to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The manager gave the team too much leeway, resulting in missed deadlines."

Common error

Avoid using "too much leeway" without explaining the negative outcome or potential risks. For instance, instead of just saying "They have too much leeway", explain why it's problematic: "They have too much leeway, which leads to inconsistent results."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too much leeway" functions as a descriptor, often acting as an adverbial modifier indicating the extent to which freedom or flexibility is granted. It suggests that the level of permissiveness is excessive, often leading to negative consequences, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too much leeway" is a commonly used phrase to express that someone has been given excessive freedom or discretion, according to Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media sources. When using this phrase, it's best practice to specify the consequences of this excessive freedom and avoid using it without context. Alternatives include "excessive freedom" and "undue latitude". Be sure to explain why there is a problem by granting "too much leeway".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too much latitude

A direct synonym, differing only in word choice.

excessive freedom

Focuses more on the freedom aspect, less on the permissiveness.

undue latitude

Emphasizes the inappropriateness of the amount of freedom given.

excessive discretion

Highlights the overabundance of decision-making power granted.

overly permissive

Focuses more on the act of allowing too much freedom.

unwarranted flexibility

Suggests the flexibility provided is not justified or necessary.

unjustified leniency

Highlights the lack of justification for the permissive behavior.

uncontrolled discretion

Emphasizes a lack of oversight or regulation.

excessive rope

Metaphorical; implies someone will eventually misuse the freedom.

too much room for maneuver

Implies that the freedom granted allows for too much manipulation or evasion.

FAQs

How can I use "too much leeway" in a sentence?

You can use "too much leeway" to indicate that someone has been given excessive freedom or discretion. For example, "The regulations give companies "too much leeway" to avoid environmental responsibility." In this sentence, the phrase suggests the regulations are not strict enough.

What is a more formal alternative to "too much leeway"?

A more formal alternative to "too much leeway" is "excessive discretion". For instance, instead of saying "The judge was given "too much leeway"", you could say "The judge was granted excessive discretion".

What are some phrases similar to "too much leeway"?

Similar phrases include "excessive freedom", "undue latitude", or "unwarranted flexibility". Each carries a slightly different nuance, but all suggest an inappropriate level of freedom or discretion.

Is it always negative to give someone "too much leeway"?

Generally, yes. The phrase "too much leeway" implies that the excessive freedom or discretion has or will lead to negative consequences. However, the specific context determines the degree of negativity. For example, "Giving children "too much leeway" can hinder their development of responsibility."