HOW TO PRONOUNCE
Carte Blanche
/(ˈ)kɑɹt ˈblɑn(t)ʃ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does Carte Blanche mean?
noun
- Unlimited discretionary power to act; unrestricted authority.
- A blank paper that is signed by some authority and given to a person to fill as they please.
- A hand with no court cards.
More meanings (2)
adverb
- As an undifferentiated mass, without regard to distinctions; willy-nilly. (Possibly from confusion with another French phrase, en masse.)
noun
- (historical) A chargecard issued by Diners Club International.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/(ˈ)kɑɹt ˈblɑn(t)ʃ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
He had a sense of having received carte blanche for the expenditure of his wits.
I had previously taken a journey to S—— to purchase some new furniture: my cousins having given me carte blanche to effect what alterations I pleased, and a sum having been set aside for that purpose.
More book examples (3)
“I agree with you. If I were Brooke, I would choke the ‘Trumpet’ at once by getting Garth to make a new valuation of the farms, and giving him carte blanche about gates and repairs: that’s my view of the political situation,” said the Rector, broadening himself by sticking his thumbs in his armholes, and laughing towards Mr. Brooke.
“If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no limit on the sum I may draw.”
Already I realize that there is going to be as much "foot-riding" as anything for the first part of my journey; so, while halting for dinner at the village of Davisville, I deliver my rather slight shoes over to the tender mercies of an Irish cobbler of the old school, with carte blanche instructions to fit them out for hard service.