carte blanche

 
Pronunciation: /kɑːt ˈblɑːnʃ/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] complete freedom to act as one wishes: the architect given carte blanche to design the store
  • 2(in piquet) a hand containing no court cards as dealt.

Origin:

late 17th century: French, literally 'blank paper' (i.e. a blank sheet on which to write whatever one wishes, particularly one's own terms for an agreement)