taking liberties
Crossing personal boundaries
Taking liberties means behaving in a way that exceeds what is appropriate or permitted, often by being too familiar, presumptuous, or disrespectful of boundaries.
Someone might take liberties with the truth by exaggerating or distorting facts, or take liberties with a text by altering it freely rather than faithfully.
The phrase often implies an unwelcome intimacy or boldness: He was taking liberties with her personal space.
In older usage, taking liberties could specifically suggest unwanted physical advances.
Exceeding appropriate bounds
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- effronteryShameless, insolent boldness
- presumptuousnessExcessive forwardness or boldness
impertinence · forwardness · cheek · nerve · gall · brass · chutzpah · boldness
Bold, offensive disrespect
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
dismissiveness · rudeness · discourtesy · flippancy · scoffing · belittlement · disparagement · derision
Fitting to new conditions
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- artistic freedomRight to create unrestrained
- poetic licenseAuthorized departure from convention
improvisation · deviation · departure · modification · alteration · reinterpretation · loose adaptation · dramatization
Breaking of rules
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- breachBreaking of agreement
- transgressionViolation of law or code
misappropriation · exploitation · unauthorized use · piracy · plagiarism · appropriation · theft · copyright violation
overstepping
Exceeding appropriate bounds
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- effronteryShameless, insolent boldness
presumptuousness · impertinence · forwardness · cheek · nerve · gall · brass · chutzpah · boldness · brazenness
insolence
Bold, offensive disrespect
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
mockery · dismissiveness · rudeness · discourtesy · flippancy · scoffing · belittlement · disparagement · derision · sarcasm
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- artistic freedomRight to create unrestrained
poetic license · improvisation · deviation · departure · modification · alteration · reinterpretation · loose adaptation · dramatization · fictionalization
violation
Breaking of rules
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- breachBreaking of agreement
transgression · misappropriation · exploitation · unauthorized use · piracy · plagiarism · appropriation · theft · copyright violation · misuse
- intrusionsintrusion, intrude, intruder, intruding, barging in