without so much as a by your leave

alternative without so much as a by-your-leave · alternative without a by your leave · alternative without a by-your-leave

1. datedOmitting the social niceties, especially that of asking permission.

   You just slam the fucking door without so much as a by your leave.

   2013, Strom Thurmond, A History of the African-American People

   3 more examples

   "What now," he said, "have the King's men respect neither for piety nor age that they burst in upon the seclusion of a holy man without so much as a 'by your leave' ?"

   1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Outlaw of Torn

   By lunchtime the Professor had had enough, and he left the retreat, his Brahminical thread and all, without so much as a by your leave.

   2014, Ashvajit Dharmachari, In the Footstep of the Buddha, page 212

   I had a new sympathy for babies, poor little things, who are rocked hours at a time without so much as a “by your leave” in the case.

   2021, Charles Edward Stowe, The Life Of Harriet Beecher Stowe