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Carte Blanche

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airbolt | 23:54 Sat 03rd Jul 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
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To give someone " Carte Blanche " means to give them no restrictions. Anyone know where this term originated?
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Avatar Image Hippy
It is French for a blank sheet of paper, meaning a signed blank cheque for which the recipient decided the amount to be given. In other words an unrestricted licence.

It means to be given full discretionary power, freedom or permission to do anything.
01:47 Sun 04th Jul 2004
Avatar Image Quizmonster
It was originally 'charte blanche' in French and came into English in the early 1700s as 'chart blanch'. It was not specifically concerned with money, but applied to any situation in which the holder of the 'empty sheet' could write out his/her own terms. In more recent years, we have taken on the modern French spelling, as presented in your question.
10:31 Sun 04th Jul 2004

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