Phrase guide

do one's own thing

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, idiomatic, informal, possibly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

1960s counterculture.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 隨心所欲 /随心所欲 (suíxīnsuǒyù) — do what one considers best
  • Finnish: tehdä mitä miellyttää — do what one considers best
  • French: faire son truc — do what one considers best
  • Galician: fai o que che chiste — do what one considers best
  • German: sein Ding machen — do what one considers best
  • Polish: chodzić własnymi drogami — do what one considers best
  • Spanish: ir por libre — do what one considers best