liberty

liberté

État d’une personne qui n’est ni emprisonnée, ni réduite en esclavage, ni sous le contrôle d’une autre.

En anglais simple : The state of being free from prison, slavery, or another person’s control.

• The prisoners finally regained their liberty.
• No one should lose their liberty without a fair trial.
• She fought for the liberty of enslaved people.

Synonymes : freedom

Contraires : captivity

Expressions courantes : personal liberty, deprive of liberty, regain liberty

liberté

La possibilité de décider librement de ce qu’on fait.

En anglais simple : The freedom to choose what you do.

• You are at liberty to leave.
• The editor gave her liberty to choose the topic.
• Do students have the liberty to question these rules?

Comment l'utiliser : at liberty to do something (You are at liberty to refuse.); liberty to do something (We have the liberty to set our own hours.)

Synonymes : freedom

Expressions courantes : liberty to choose, at liberty, give someone liberty

familiarité, liberté excessive

Un geste trop familier ou qui dépasse ce qu’une personne a autorisé.

En anglais simple : An action that is too familiar or goes beyond what someone has allowed.

• Touching her hair was an unwelcome liberty.
• He took liberties with strangers and made them uncomfortable.
• You took a liberty when you opened my private letters.

Comment l'utiliser : take liberties with someone (He took liberties with the guests, asking deeply personal questions.)

Synonymes : presumption

Expressions courantes : take a liberty, unwelcome liberty

permission à terre

Période pendant laquelle un marin peut quitter le navire pour aller à terre avec autorisation.

En anglais simple : Time when a sailor has permission to leave the ship and go on land.

• The sailors were granted liberty.
• Our liberty ended at midnight.
• The crew enjoyed a day of liberty ashore.

Synonymes : shore leave

Expressions courantes : on liberty, grant liberty, liberty ashore