fends for oneself
Manages without help
To fend for oneself is to manage without help from others, taking care of one's own needs: After his parents died, he had to fend for himself at sixteen.
The phrase often implies resourcefulness in difficult circumstances, though it can simply mean being independent: The kids are old enough to fend for themselves at lunchtime.
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- street smartsPractical urban knowledge
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- financial independenceWealth sustaining indefinite living
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
making ends meet · entrepreneurship · grit · making do · rough it · adaptability · coping skills · improvisation · perseverance · individualism · do it yourself · fortitude · freedom · on your own · resilience · inner strength · emotional stability · hustling