license

Definition

  • noun: an official document, card, etc., that gives you permission to do, use, or have something
  • noun: permission to act
  • verb: to give official permission to (someone or something) to do or use something
  • verb: to issue a license to
  • often used to refer specifically to a driver's license
  • synonyms: lehrfreiheit, ok, academic freedom

Examples

  • She regards her illness as a 'license to treat' other people badly. [=she thinks that because she is ill she can treat other people badly]

  • He says that if the new law is passed it will give these companies 'a license to print money'.

  • The gun was not 'licensed' to him. [=he did not have formal permission to own the gun]

Movie quotes

  • (..) if things had gone on that way... ...this place would have got the best of him. But then, in the spring of ... ...the powers that be decided: The roof of the license-plate factory needs resurfacing. I need a dozen volunteers for a week's work. As you know... ...special detail carries with it (..)
    1994 The Shawshank Redemption
  • (..) and burn it with a blow torch. It's delicious. Do you know anyone who has a blow torch? No. Don't you need a special license to operate those things? No, I don't think so. - Fúsi? - Yes. - Do you have a blow torch at work? - Yes. (..)
    2015 Virgin Mountain
  • (..) Yeah. That's how she paid me, in cash. That's how everybody pays me. Why? I went away for a bit. I lost my PT license. Now I have to work off the books. (chuckles) Jesus, you Feds really got nothing better to do than to bust my nards about (..)
    2015 TvShow: Bones Title: The Promise in the Palace Season: 11 Episode 7