on (your) own hook

American

if you do something on your own hook, you do it without anyone else telling you or asking you to do it.

Barbara took up painting on her own hook and developed into a talented artist.

• not have two pennies to rub together
• nothing but
• nothing but something
• nothing daunted
• nothing doing
• Nothing doing.
• nothing if not
• nothing if not something
• nothing less than
• nothing less than something
• nothing much
• nothing short of
• nothing short of something
• nothing to do with
• nothing to it
• nothing to sneeze at
• nothing to write home about
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• not hold breath
• not hold liquor
• not hold water
• not hold your breath
• not hold your liquor
• not hurt a fly
• not if can help it