to spread your wings
1
4.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
tomar vuelo
- It's time for you to spread your wings and explore new opportunities.
So spread your wings, little birdie fly.
- So spread your wings, little birdie fly.
- What was it about you that felt so compelled to, you know, spread your wings so far?
- But unless you decide to climb up somewhere high and with faith fling yourself off that edge and spread your wings, you're never going to know what you're capable of.
- Because I don't know how like I say a lot of stupid quotes like that because he said Harper, I didn't think you're going to make it, but like it's time to spread your wings.
Examples
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We're so looking forward to helping you spread your wings and fly, and how your presence will enrich our campus.
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It's time for you to spread your wings and fly.
-
- I think it's good for you to spread your wings.
-
You want to spread your wings a little... get out of the city, go to school somewhere else.
-
Oh, we're giving Walt a chance to spread his wings.
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But now I know that you're ready to spread your wings and fly without me.
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But you can't spread your wings and fly to nowhere.
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I guess what I'm saying is... it is time for Tripp... to spread his wings.
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Don't you want to spread your wings and flap your way to glory?
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But unless you decide to climb up somewhere high and with faith fling yourself off that edge and spread your wings, you're never going to know what you're capable of.
Synonyms
23
4.0
To try new activities or areas to grow what you do
8
6.3
To begin to use your skills and get recognition
3
5.8
Begin to fly, like birds rising into the air or projects starting to do well
2
7.5
To be independent and take care of yourself without help
1
3.7
To look for new, exciting experiences that may be risky
1
7.7
To become independent from your parents and live on your own
To do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow
Antonyms
How Independent
- Informal
14
4.8
11
4.1
- Informal
26
5.3
- Informal
1
4.2
23
4.0
309
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal image of spreading wings (preparing to fly) maps clearly onto gaining freedom or independence, so a learner who knows 'spread' and 'wings' can infer a general sense of starting to go out on one's own. However, the human-social meaning (pursuing opportunities/independence) requires a metaphorical mapping from the literal action and may not be fully predictable in all contexts, so it is not fully compositional.
Etymology
Spread your wings may come from the image of a young bird opening its wings in the nest to try flying for the first time. So, it now means 'to become independent and try new things'.