THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A mind of your own
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
The ability and willingness to form your own opinions and make your own decisions.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- She has a mind of her own and chooses courses that genuinely interest her.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
The ability and willingness to form your own opinions and make your own decisions.
Show the answer
A mind of your own — The ability and willingness to form your own opinions and make your own decisions.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A mind of your own” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
The ability and willingness to form your own opinions and make your own decisions.
Compare: She has a mind of her own and chooses courses that genuinely interest her.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use it about someone who thinks independently rather than simply following others. It can express approval, though tone may suggest stubbornness.
More examples in context
- Having a mind of your own does not stop you listening to good advice.
- Our youngest team member has a mind of his own and asks thoughtful questions.
Usage note
The usual pattern is have a mind of your own, changing your to match the person. An object with a mind of its own is a humorous description of unpredictable behaviour.
A short conversation
A: Will Nora choose the same project as the rest of us?
B: Perhaps, but she has a mind of her own. She will decide after reading the options.
A: That seems sensible.
One more practice question
Who shows a mind of their own?
A. Someone who considers advice and then makes an independent decision.
B. Someone who copies every decision without thinking about it.
Check your answer
A. Independent judgment is the central idea.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.