Paddle your own canoe Meaning in English

expression

US

PAD-uhl yer OWN kuh-NOO

UK

PAD-uhl yaw OWN kuh-NOO

Definition

To be independent and do things for yourself without help from others.

Usage & Nuances

This is an informal idiom. Often used to praise self-reliance or suggest someone needs to learn to be more independent. Less common in American English today but still understood. Not used for teamwork situations.

• Spanish: valerte por ti mismo - arreglártelas solo
• Portuguese (BR): fazer tudo sozinho - se virar sozinho
• Portuguese (PT): fazer tudo sozinho - desenrascar-se
• Chinese (Simplified): 独立自主（做事）
• Chinese (Traditional): 獨立自主（做事）
• Hindi: अपना काम ख़ुद करना
• Arabic: اعتمد على نفسك
• Bengali: নিজের কাজ নিজেই করা - নিজের উপর নির্ভর করা
• Russian: рассчитывать только на себя - справляться самостоятельно
• Japanese: 自分の力でやる - 独立して行動する
• Vietnamese: tự lo liệu mọi việc - tự lập
• Korean: 스스로 해결하다 - 자립하다
• Turkish: kendi işini kendi görmek - bağımsız hareket etmek
• Urdu: اپنا کام خود کرنا - خودمختار رہنا
• Indonesian: mengurus diri sendiri - mandiri

Example Sentences

You have to paddle your own canoe when you move out.

basic

She likes to paddle her own canoe at work.

basic

When parents travel, kids need to paddle their own canoe.

basic

College is the time to really paddle your own canoe.

natural

Don’t ask Tom for help—he believes in paddling his own canoe.

natural

Sometimes you have to just paddle your own canoe and figure things out.

natural