give (one) (some amount of) elbow room

1. To give or create for one enough space in an area to move around easily or be unencumbered. The zoo announced that the new expansion would give the primates a little extra elbow room. This new terrace will give our customers some elbow room during our busy hours. The train to the city is always so crowded on weekdays, and nobody gives you any elbow room at all.

2. To acquire the freedom and ability to act as one wants. This grant from the city council will give us some elbow room to expand the scope of the business the way we originally intended. Well, we're her cabinet—if we've given her too much elbow room as student council president, we should impose limitations. I always give my creative teams as much elbow room as they need to see their visions become realities.