blank cheque

IPA/ˌblæŋk ˈtʃek/
IPA/ˌblæŋk ˈtʃek/

blank cheque — noun

1. a cheque that someone has signed but left the amount empty, so the person who re

1.名詞B2
釋義

a cheque that someone has signed but left the amount empty, so the person who receives it can fill in the sum later

例句

Talia signed the blank cheque and handed it to her assistant.

collocation: sign a blank cheque

Joshua left the amount empty on the blank cheque by mistake.

同義詞

用法筆記

In American English the spelling is 'blank check'.

常見錯誤

❌I lost a blank cheque' (when you mean an unsigned cheque).
✅I lost an unsigned cheque.
💡a blank cheque is already signed; only the amount is missing.

2. complete freedom to decide how to act or spend money, without any limits set in

2.名詞C1
釋義

complete freedom to decide how to act or spend money, without any limits set in advance by the person or group giving the authority

例句

The board gave Andrei a blank cheque to restructure the entire division.

pattern: give [someone] a blank cheque to [do something]

Jin felt the new manager had been handed a blank cheque by the owners.

passive: be handed a blank cheque

同義詞
  • carte blanche

    more formal, often used in diplomatic or official contexts

  • free rein

    informal; emphasises freedom of action rather than money

  • open mandate

    used mainly in politics; authority granted by voters or a group

反義詞

文法句型

give (someone) a blank cheque to do something

a blank cheque for [purpose]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (AMOUNT LEFT BLANK): the figurative sense describes authority or resources, not a physical cheque. Common in political and business contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She gave me a blank cheque for my birthday present.' (referring to an unspecified gift).
✅She told me I could pick any present I wanted.
💡a blank cheque in the figurative sense means complete freedom to act or spend, not an undefined gift.