a law unto yourself

a law unto (oneself)

One who does whatever they desire, ignoring the rules and regulations. If you need to delegate, I wouldn't ask Gina—she is a law unto herself, and it's hard to persuade her to do anything she's not interested in. How many times has Jason been arrested now? Geez, he sure is a law unto himself!
See also: law, unto

law unto

A phrase used to describe someone who acts independently of what is normal or expected. Julie has always marched to the beat of her own drum. She's a law unto herself.
See also: law, unto
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a law unto yourself

COMMON If you describe a person or organization as a law unto themselves, you mean that they do what they want, ignoring laws, rules, or usual ways of doing things. He does his work well but in an unconventional way. He is truly a law unto himself. Most athletic departments are pretty much a law unto themselves — unaccountable in terms of where this money goes.
See also: law, unto
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • a law unto
  • a law unto (oneself)
  • a law unto himself, herself, etc.
  • law unto oneself
  • unto
  • be a law unto (oneself)
  • be a law unto yourself
  • law
  • himself
  • herself
References in periodicals archive
And when some of Taylor's members demand the outrageous wages that result in fans paying up to PS60 for a ticket, I'd have thought being a law unto yourself was something Taylor (above, left) welcomed.
Taylor's law out of order
After a jury found him guilty of blackmail, Recorder John Muir described Thoms' behaviour as "deplorable", telling him: "You seem to have considered yourself a law unto yourself with no concerns about how your actions would affect hard-working, honest members of the public."
Prison record of neighbour from hell