carte blanche / charter
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carte blanche
In a figurative sense, permission or justification to do something without restrictions or fear of negative consequences. It often refers to behavior that would normally not be accepted.
Der Erfolg des letzten Projekts war für ihn kein Freibrief, die neuen Regeln zu ignorieren.
The success of the last project was not carte blanche for him to ignore the new rules.
charter
A historical document that granted a person or a city certain freedoms, rights, or privileges.
Im Mittelalter verlieh der König der Stadt einen Freibrief, der sie von bestimmten Steuern befreite.
In the Middle Ages, the king granted the city a charter that exempted it from certain taxes.
The word is made up of 'frei' (free) and 'Brief' (letter/document). So it literally describes a 'letter that makes free.' This origin explains both the historical meaning of a document that grants privileges and the figurative meaning of permission.
Seine Immunität ist kein Freibrief für gesetzeswidriges Verhalten.
His immunity is not carte blanche for unlawful behavior.
In the figurative meaning, 'Freibrief' (carte blanche) is often used in the construction 'ein Freibrief für etwas sein' (to be carte blanche for something). The 'something' is usually a negative behavior or action.
Ein hohes Gehalt sollte kein Freibrief für Arroganz sein.
A high salary should not be carte blanche for arrogance.
The figurative meaning is much more common today than the historical one. If the word appears in modern usage without a historical context such as 'Mittelalter' (Middle Ages) or 'König' (king), it almost always means unrestricted permission in a figurative sense.
Die vage Formulierung im Vertrag war für die Firma ein Freibrief, die Kosten zu erhöhen.
The vague wording in the contract was carte blanche for the company to increase the costs.
The word is often used in negative contexts to express that something is precisely not unrestricted permission. A very typical formulation is therefore 'Das ist kein Freibrief, um ... zu tun' (That is not carte blanche to do ...).
Mein Vertrauen ist kein Freibrief, meine Privatsphäre zu verletzen.
My trust is not carte blanche to violate my privacy.
