Not what you'd call a free hand (5)
I believe the answer is:
hired
'hand' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'not what you'd call a free' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'call' could be 'hi' and 'hi' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'red' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hired that I've seen before include "like a Merc" , "Paid to work" , "Employed or engaged" , "Taken into service" , "Taken on to staff" .)