left to their own devices
1
6.9
- idiom
:
dejar a alguien hacer lo que quiera
- The children were left to their own devices during the summer vacation, allowing them to explore new hobbies.
He's helping people that but for him they would be left to their own devices.
- He's helping people that but for him they would be left to their own devices.
- But it would have done so at a price to hundreds of patients who, like Celine, were left to their own devices once the research had been completed.
- You know, most of them would desist if supported and left to their own devices.
Examples
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Unfortunately, they are not left to their own devices; instead, Penn subjects them to a steady drumbeat of propaganda—the students describe it as political indoctrination—urging them to be "sensitive.
Academic text (1997) -
But it would have done so at a price to hundreds of patients who, like Celine, were left to their own devices once the research had been completed.
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Some of us, however, lack motivation and drive when left to our own devices.
Academic text (2011) -
Colleges and universities are too essential and expensive to the state and society to be left to their own devices.
Academic text (1997) -
- If you won't get the troops out of the hot sun, lieutenant, I suppose we are just left to our own devices.
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Wherever they have been left to their own devices, they have shown a constant tendency to relapse into barbarism.
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Moreover, interest payments do not necessarily "crowd out" social spending; left to their own devices, HIPC governments would not necessarily use the funds now allocated to debt payments to tackle the problems of the poor.
Academic text (2001) -
I believe the people of TX should vote on it internally; if it passes, sure, leave them to their own devices, but cut off cold turkey—no transition, just slam the door on all federal benefits.
Blog text (28) -
The conductor may ask, "How can I flood my students with chorale experiences over a given period of rehearsal time so that, when left to their own devices, they will have no choice but to know and be able to do chorale style?" The phrase "when left to their own devices" highlights the important distinction between group-oriented assessment and individual assessments.
Academic text (2001) -
The conductor may ask, "How can I flood my students with chorale experiences over a given period of rehearsal time so that, when left to their own devices, they will have no choice but to know and be able to do chorale style?" The phrase "when left to their own devices" highlights the important distinction between group-oriented assessment and individual assessments.
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
22
3.6
Left without anyone watching or caring for them
21
4.2
Not watched by an adult or person in charge
15
4.1
Freedom to act and make choices without someone controlling you
5
4.1
The freedom to act or decide without being told what to do
1
7.1
Alone without help or someone watching, a person must take care of themselves
Antonyms
How Independent
Surface Forms
Morphology
leave + to + their + own + devices
The overall meaning ('allowed to act independently') can be largely inferred from 'left' (abandoned/allowed) + 'their own' (possessive) + 'devices' (means or methods), i.e. 'left with their own means' → unsupervised. However, 'devices' is used metaphorically here (ways/means rather than physical tools), so this figurative shift may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without some prior exposure.
Etymology
The idiom left to their own devices paints a picture of someone being left alone with their devices, meaning the tools or things they have to use. So, with no one watching, they 'act independently' or 'do as they choose'.