paddle your own canoe

paddle (one's) own canoe

To act independently. Now that you're 30, people expect you to paddle your own canoe—you can't just live with your parents forever.
See also: canoe, own, paddle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

paddle your own canoe

If you paddle your own canoe, you control what you want to do without anyone's help or interference. With no one managing him, he was basically left to paddle his own canoe. As far as the rest of Europe is concerned we've just got to paddle our own canoe.
See also: canoe, own, paddle
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

paddle your own canoe

be independent and self-sufficient. informal
This expression has been in figurative use from the early 19th century: it was the title of a popular song by Sarah T. Bolton in 1854 .
See also: canoe, own, paddle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • canoe
  • paddle (one's) own canoe
  • paddle one's own canoe
  • paddle own canoe
  • paddle one's own canoe, to
  • each to his/her/their own
  • odds are, the
  • (the) odds are (that)
  • be cutting (one's) own throat
  • be cutting your own throat
References in periodicals archive
PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE After being dropped off by helicopter, Larry Lamb and Scarlett Moffatt find out they have to get to the jungle camp by kayak
Four nights from PS96pp Learn how to paddle your own canoe - or kayak - at Haven's Lakeland Holiday Park and you could be a future Olympian.
"Paddle your own canoe because if you don't someone else will for you" And the worst?
Honestly, I really loved Nick Offerman's book, Paddle Your Own Canoe. I thought it was just terrific.
P Johns, Bristol GEORGE Osborne might be living it up on a gondola but, for the rest of us, it's a case of paddle your own canoe.
Kerr's mother, in particular, emerges as a woman with a flair for lively language, advising the author to "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe."
Baden Powell says you should paddle your own canoe."
@LynneAllbutt Paddle your own coracle I have always believed in the phrase 'paddle your own canoe', which means to act independently and decide your own fate.
The grant from the Gateshead Housing Company's award-winning Community Fund will allow Wayout in Gateshead (WinG) to continue to run its Paddle Your Own Canoe project.
Unless you have your own wet suit and can paddle your own canoe.
On water, you can paddle your own canoe, experience open water diving or ride some worldclass waves.
GEORGE Osborne might be living it up on HOLIDAY: a gondola but, for the rest of us, it's a case of paddle your own canoe.
I just got Nick Offerman's Paddle Your Own Canoe, and Rob Delaney's book, Mother.
The cash from Gateshead Housing Company will let Wayout in Gateshead to continue to run its Paddle Your Own Canoe scheme.
Instead, you can go exploring in a rowing boat or paddle your own canoe, both for only a few pence.