Under your own steam Meaning in English
expression
UN-der yor OWN STEEM
UN-duh yawn STEEM
Definition
If you do something under your own steam, you do it by yourself, without help from anyone else.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and common in British English; American English sometimes prefers 'on your own' or 'by yourself.' Used when someone completes a task or journey independently. Not literal—no reference to steam, but originally referred to steam engines. Often used to praise self-reliance.
Spanish: por tus propios mediosPortuguese (BR): pelos próprios meiosPortuguese (PT): pelos próprios meiosChinese (Simplified): 靠自己力量Chinese (Traditional): 靠自己力量Hindi: अपने बलबूते परArabic: بمجهودك الخاصBengali: নিজের শক্তিতে - নিজের চেষ্টা দিয়েRussian: самостоятельно - своими силамиJapanese: 自分の力でVietnamese: tự lực - tự mìnhKorean: 자기 힘으로 - 스스로Turkish: kendi başına - kendi gücüyleUrdu: اپنی محنت سے - خود سےIndonesian: dengan usaha sendiri - secara mandiri
Example Sentences
He got to the meeting under his own steam.
basic
She finished the project under her own steam.
basic
Can you travel under your own steam?
basic
After his injury, he wanted to walk again under his own steam.
natural
I didn’t get any support—I did it all under my own steam.
natural
She prefers to solve problems under her own steam rather than asking for help.
natural