have a mind of one's own

English

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Verb

have a mind of one's own (third-person singular simple present has a mind of one's own, present participle having a mind of one's own, simple past and past participle had a mind of one's own)

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.
   • 1866, Bayard Taylor, chapter 4, in The Story of Kennett:

     "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."

   • 1874, Horatio Alger, chapter 25, in Brave and Bold:

     Captain Evans had a mind of his own, and did not choose to adopt any man's judgment or prejudices blindly.

   • 1921, Louis Joseph Vance, chapter 22, in Alias The Lone Wolf:

     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.

   • 2003 February 10, Alison Maxwell, “How to marry your own millionaire”, in USA Today, retrieved 3 November 2010:

     Be a little audacious — disagree on at least one thing so they know you have a mind of your own.

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 a mind of their own.

Translations

See also

• make up one's mind