fend for yourself
Handle things solo
To fend for yourself is to manage without help from others, especially when such help would normally be expected or available.
The phrase suggests self-reliance born of necessity rather than choice: With both parents working late, the kids learned to fend for themselves.
It often implies making do with limited resources or figuring things out alone.
- surviveContinue to exist
- every man for himselfChaotic self-interest declaration
- self-reliantAble to provide independently
- independentFree from external control
- go it aloneProceed without help
scrappy · resourceful · hustle · pull yourself up · struggle · rough it · alone · tough · trial by fire · out in the cold · grit · bootstrap · manage · cope · make do · make ends meet · solo · fly solo
- self-interestself-interest, selfishness, egoism, look out for number one, every man for himself
- independencefreedom, liberty, Independence Day, autonomy, sovereignty