unto

*law unto oneself

Fig. one who ignores laws or rules; one who sets one's own standards of behavior. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) You can't get Bill to follow the rules. He's a law unto himself. Jane is a law unto herself. She's totally unwilling to cooperate.

See also: law, oneself

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Prov. You should not worry about things that might happen in the future.; It is enough to worry about things that are happening today. (Biblical.) Jane: I can't get to sleep; I keep thinking about the interview I have to do tomorrow. Alan: If the interview is tomorrow, worry about it tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

See also: day, evil, sufficient

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be a law unto yourself

if you are a law unto yourself, you do things differently to other people and ignore the usual rules Charles certainly doesn't stick to the standard company procedures, but then, he's a law unto himself.

See also: law

woe betide somebody   (humorous)

if you say woe betide the person who does something, you mean that they will be punished or cause trouble for themselves if they do that thing Woe betide anyone who plays Ann's tapes without her permission.

See also: woe

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a law unto yourself

a person who does things differently and ignores the usual rules The male characters in her novels are usually attractive, powerful, and dangerous – a law unto themselves.

See also: law

woe betide somebody also woe be unto somebody

bad things will happen to someone Woe betide anyone who plays Ann's CDs without asking her first. And woe be unto anyone who messes with my desk!

See also: woe