own person, be one's

be (one's) own man/woman/person

To act, think, or work independently; to not accept or be swayed by outside influences. You can't just accept everything you read in the media—you have to be your own man. When I was younger, I would do anything my friends were doing, but I'm my own person now. You won't be able to manipulate her—she's really her own woman.

See also: man, own, person, woman

own person, be one's

Also, be one's own man or woman . Be independent, be responsible for oneself. For example, We can't tell Jerry what to do-he's his own person. Chaucer used this idiom in Troilus and Cressida: "I am my own woman, well at ease." [Late 1300s]

See also: own