have the run of

present singular third person has the run of · participle present having the run of · participle past had the run of · past had the run of

1. set phraseTo have permission or freedom to move around throughout an area or to use something at will.

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

   2005 July 15, Roger Collis, “Setting priorities when planning vacations”, in New York Times, retrieved 23 Jun 2014

   2 more examples

   "[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."

   1873, Thomas Hardy, chapter 5, in A Pair of Blue Eyes

   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.

   1915, Jack London, chapter 2, in The Jacket