flying the nest
Moving out young
Flying the nest is leaving one's parents' home to live independently, typically as a young adult.
The image comes from fledgling birds leaving the nest when ready to fly on their own.
The phrase often carries emotional weight for parents: It was hard when the last one flew the nest.
Sometimes appears as fly the nest or flown the nest.
- homeOne's personal residence
- skyVisible overhead expanse
- parentsMother and father
- apron stringsSymbol of parental control
- adulthoodState of being grown
maturity · independence · fledgling · autonomy · launch · new beginnings · departure · moving day · first apartment · coming-of-age · leap · safety net · separation · wing · generational shifts · self-reliance · soar · support systems
flying the neststaying put
Remaining in place
staying home · settling in · hunkering down · living at home · sticking around
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