English Language & Usage Asked on December 30, 2020
Free hand [countable; singular]
Unrestricted freedom or
authority: They gave the director a free hand to cut the budget
wherever she wanted
However, the Random House Learner’s Dictionary explains the NOUN GRAMMAR CODES as follows
[count] it can be counted and has a plural. It can be used with the word a or an before it.
[singular] only used in the singular with a singular verb. It can be
used with a or an before it.
Therefore, isn’t adding both codes in the same word contradictory?
Uncountable nouns (or, more precisely, nouns used in uncountable senses) do not take an indefinite article. The fact that one can say "a free hand" means that the noun phrase "free hand" is countable, by definition.
The [singular] code, by contrast, means that this sense is only ever used in the singular.
The two codes therefore do not contradict each other.
Answered by phoog on December 30, 2020
It’s an idiom.
a free hand
Complete freedom to do what one wants or chooses. Can you believe the boss gave me a free hand on this project? Finally, I can present a campaign with my own vision!
Answered by Xanne on December 30, 2020
Free hand is "countable" and "singular". So is "potato". If there is more than one potato in the bag you have a bag of "potatoes".
If I gave a "free hand" to both Fred and Jack to pursue their respective duties, I could say I gave both Fred and Jack "free hands".
There is nothing remarkable about this.
Answered by Hot Licks on December 30, 2020
The countability is a red-herring.
The OED classes a free hand as a phrase:
P5. to have a free hand (also to have one's hands free): to have the freedom to act completely at one's own discretion. Also with a free hand, with one's hands free; similarly to give a free hand.
1838 Times 5 Jan. 6/2 If..Lord Mulgrave had been sent out to Canada with his hands free, and with unfettered power to carry into effect his own wise and benevolent views.
[...]
1989 AJ 28 June 15/3 The council..had wisely given the community group a fairly free hand in converting the building.
2002 Independent 9 Apr. 8/2 The photographer..was recruited by Luciano Benetton..in 1983 with a free hand to sell the brand.
As such, it is set and not really capable of being analysed any more than "He gave me carte blanche."
To add to this, it is probably an idiom - there is not much sense in the literal version - what can you do when one hand is not "free"? It is hardly the complete freedom that the phrase/idiom implies.
Answered by Greybeard on December 30, 2020
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