To give or allow someone free rein
Posted by ShuzoNakamura Mon, 07 May 2007 05:08:58 GMT
To give or allow someone free rein
能力や人柄などを信頼され、任され、好きにやらせてもらえるということは嬉しいことです。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。
「To give or allow someone free rein」です。
これは、「制限なしに自由にさせる」という意味です。
この表現は、動物に対して、手に負えないから、なすがままにさせるという場合、感情に対して自分で制御できず、そのおもむくがままにといった場合に使いますが、普通、権威ある者（例えば、上司や親）が、その支配下にある者（部下や子）を認めて、好きにやらせるということであり、自由放任、好き勝手ということではありません。下の例で、ビルは上司のトムからＣプロジェクトを任されました。しかも、自分の思い通りにすればいいということです。感激したビルは、「期待を裏切るようなことはしません」と誓います。
Tom: Bill, I just wanted to let you know that I'm putting you in charge of the C project.
Bill: That's an honor, sir. How would you like me to carry it out?
Tom: Well, that's your area of expertise, so I'm giving you free rein on this one.
Bill: Thank you, sir. I won't let you down.
同じような表現として、"I leave it up to you"というのがあります。これは上の表現とは違って、例えば、上司から部下という関係だけでなく、部下から上司という関係に対しても使えます。そして、部下から上司の場合には、さらに丁寧な表現として、"I leave this matter in your hands."というのがあります。
5/7/2007
（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）
To give or allow someone free rein means to let someone do whatever they want without restrictions. It is usually done by someone who someone who has some authority over the other person but who allows them the freedom to do what they want. A boss can give free rein to an employee that he trusts to do a job the way the employee thinks it should be done. Parents can give their children free rein if they are too lenient on them and don't set boundries and limitations on them.In the same way, you can give animals free rein if you don't control them and let them do as they please. You can even give emotions free rein if you don't control them and you let them to express themselves and control you. In other words, you get angry and yell or excited and jump into things or sad and cry and then do things based on how you feel without thinking them through first.
A: B, I just wanted to let you know that I'm putting you in charge of the C project. B: That's an honor, sir. How would you like me to carry it out? A: Well, that's your area of expertise, so I'm giving you free rein on this one. B: Thank you, sir. I won't let you down.
This expression probably comes from the fact that reins are leather straps used to control horses. If you give your horse free rein, you are not controlling him and are just letting him go wherever he wants to go.
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