on one's own two feet
12
4.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
valerse por sí mismo
- It's important for young adults to learn how to manage their finances and stand on their own two feet.
- stand on one's own two feet
- get on one's own two feet
- learn to stand on one's own two feet
Examples
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Surely a few more years of funding, and he'll be able to stand on his own two feet.
Blog text (11) -
I know you'll say that I've got to get a job, I've got to stand on my own two feet.
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A man should stand on his own two feet.
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When are you gonna wake up and stand on your own two feet, huh?
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I am a new woman and now realize how strong and able I am to stand on my own two feet.
Blog text (32) -
I have to stand on my own two feet, as a person... and as an actress.
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He wants her to learn to stand on her own two feet.
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I've got to learn to stand on my own two feet.
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Now I can't wait to stand on my own two feet again.
Fiction book (1991) -
After graduating from college, she felt ready to stand on her own two feet and start her career.
Synonyms
26
5.3
To do something without help from other people
16
5.6
Look after yourself without help from others
14
4.8
To act or work alone without help from others
11
4.9
To be independent and not need help from others
7
6.5
To make your own decisions without other people telling you what to do
5
4.4
To support yourself without help from other people
2
7.5
To be independent and take care of yourself without help
1
7.1
Alone without help or someone watching, a person must take care of themselves
To do things for yourself without help from others
Antonyms
How Independent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to be independent' is directly inferable from the constituents: 'on one's own' already signals being by oneself and 'two feet' evokes standing without help, so the composite evokes standing/supporting oneself. This physical-to-social metaphor (standing on one's own feet = being self-sufficient) is common across languages and follows a predictable compositional logic for learners who know the words.
Etymology
On one's own two feet comes from the simple image of standing alone. If you can stand on your own two feet, you support yourself without help, so the phrase means 'to be independent'.