fending for oneself
Surviving without help
Fending for oneself means taking care of your own needs without help from others.
The phrase implies managing independently in circumstances where support might normally be expected: With both parents working late, the kids learned to fend for themselves.
It often suggests resourcefulness in the face of necessity rather than preference.
- self-advocacyPromoting one's own interests
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- coping skillsMethods for managing stress
figuring it out · adaptability · perseverance · scrappiness · improvisation · self-reliance · flying solo · making do · rough it · independence · on your own · going it alone · lone wolf · negotiation · ingenuity · determination · fortitude · self-confidence