English

Verb

have the run of

1. (set phrase) To have permission or freedom to move around throughout an area or to use something at will.
   • 1873, Thomas Hardy, A Pair of Blue Eyes, ch. 5:

     "[W]hilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. I have the run of the house at any time, you know."

   • 1915, Jack London, The Jacket, ch. 2:

     He told of his power in the prison by virtue of his being trusty in the Warden's office, and because of the fact that he had the run of the dispensary.

   • 2005 July 15, Roger Collis, "Setting priorities when planning vacations," New York Times (retrieved 23 June 2014):

     Having the run of an airport lounge takes some of the pain from flight delays, cancellations and long connecting times.