paddle (your) own canoe

informal

to be independent and not need help from anyone else.

We hoped that after he left college he'd paddle his own canoe.

• give someone a free hand
• give someone a free reign
• give someone a free rein
• give someone a hand
• give someone a hard time
• give someone a head start
• give someone a heads up
• give someone a leg up
• give someone [a lot of/some etc.] stick
• give someone a lot of stick
• give someone an earful
• give someone an even break
• give someone a new lease of life
• Give someone an inch and take a mile.
• Give someone an inch and they'll take a mile.
• give someone a piece of mind
• give someone a piece of your mind
• give someone a ring
• give someone a rocket
• give someone a rough time
• give someone a run for money
• give someone a run for their money
• give someone a taste of own medicine
• give someone a taste of their own medicine
• give someone a tinkle