do one's own thing
English
Etymology
1960s counterculture.
Verb
do one's own thing (third-person singular simple present does one's own thing, present participle doing one's own thing, simple past did one's own thing, past participle done one's own thing)
- (idiomatic, possibly somewhat dated, informal) To do what one considers to be best suited or most satisfying for oneself; to do what expresses one's distinctive interests or talents; to do as one chooses.
- 1977, October 3, "Behavior: Psychobabble," Time (retrieved 8 December 2019):
- The psychological patter of the '70s is as inescapable as Muzak and just as numbing: Are you relating? Going through heavy changes? In touch with yourself and doing your own thing?
- 1988, July 1, John S. Wilson,"Sounds Around Town," New York Times (retrieved 8 December 2019):
- This weekend, Mr. Rouse is doing his own thing: leading his own quartet with John Hicks on piano, Santi DeBriano on bass, and Ed Blackwell on drums, and playing his own compositions.
- 2010, December 11, Gill Sutherland, "I want my kids to rebel," Guardian (UK) (retrieved 8 December 2019):
- OK, so I want my kids to find their own way, do their own thing, become their own people.
- 2016, May 12, Shannon Proudfoot, "Sophie’s role: What do we expect of prime ministers’ spouses?," Macleans (Canada) (retrieved 8 December 2019):
- If we look at Stephen Harper’s wife, she was basically a non-entity in public. She maintained real distance from political life and just kept doing her own thing.
- 1977, October 3, "Behavior: Psychobabble," Time (retrieved 8 December 2019):
Synonyms
- suit oneself
Translations
do what one considers best
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