Definition

Noun: 1. The power or right to give orders or make decisions; authority to decide or allow something. 2. An arbitrary or unsupported assertion or statement; a personal opinion without proof.

Usage

The word "say-so" is informal and is used to refer to either the authority to make a decision or a simple, often unverified, statement.

Examples: - Referring to authority: - I can't approve the budget on my own say-so; I need the manager's signature. - The children can only watch TV with their parents' say-so. - Referring to an unsupported statement: - You can't just believe it on his say-so; we need to see some evidence. - Her claim is just an empty say-so without any data to back it up.

Advanced Usage

• "to have the final say-so": to have the ultimate authority to decide.
  • The editor-in-chief has the final say-so on what gets published.
• "on someone's say-so": based solely on someone's permission or assertion.
  • The project proceeded on the CEO's say-so.

Variants and Related Words

• Say (verb): To utter words; to express in words.
• Saying (noun): A short, commonly known expression.

Synonyms

• Authority: The power or right to give orders.
• Permission: Consent or authorization.
• Assertion: A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
• Decree: An official order that has the force of law.

Related Phrases

• Give the say-so: To give permission or authorization.
  • Once the director gives the say-so, we can begin filming.
• Go on someone's say-so: To act based solely on someone's word.
  • We invested a lot of money, going purely on his say-so.

Related Idioms

• It's your say-so: It's your decision or responsibility.
  • It's your say-so; you're the one in charge here.

Noun

1. the power or right to give orders or make decisions
   • he has the authority to issue warrants
   • deputies are given authorization to make arrests
   • a place of potency in the state
2. an authoritative declaration
3. one chap's arbitrary assertion