Dictionary

have a mind of one's own en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To form one's personal opinions and choose one's actions without being governed by the views or choices of others; to be independently minded; to think for oneself.
   • "Don't be anxious, daddy!" said he, with assumed playfulness; "she's not a girl to take the first that offers. She has a mind of her own." 1866, Bayard Taylor, chapter 4, in The Story of Kennett:
   • Be a little audacious — disagree on at least one thing so they know you have a mind of your own. 2003 February 10, Alison Maxwell, “How to marry your own millionaire”, in USA Today, retrieved 03 Nov 2010:
   • Captain Evans had a mind of his own, and did not choose to adopt any man's judgment or prejudices blindly. 1874, Horatio Alger, chapter 25, in Brave and Bold:
   • The committee, under Lord Coleraine, its Chairman, has a mind of its own, and is not deterred by argument where it is convinced that it has a good case. 1957 August 14, “The Central Transport Consultative Committee”, in Railway Magazine, page 582:
   • That little man has a mind of his own, and even if I do figure on his payroll as confidential secretary, he doesn't tell me everything he knows. 1921, Louis Joseph Vance, chapter 22, in Alias The Lone Wolf:
2. (of an inanimate or non-sentient thing, with 'its' or 'their') To seem to possess animate qualities or a conscious will, especially a will to misbehave.
   • This washing machine never sticks to the programmed cycle. It has a mind of its own.
   • I'm trying to follow the dance steps, but my feet have minds of their own.

Forms

Relateds

make up one's mind

Translations (6)

fr juger par soi-même (Translations) · fr penser par soi-même (Translations) · pl mieć własne zdanie (Translations) · pt pensar por si mesmo (Translations) · pt ter opinião própria (Translations) · es no casarse con nadie (Translations)