march to the beat of a different drummer
Embrace individual path
To march to the beat of a different drummer is to live or act according to one's own values rather than conforming to social expectations.
The phrase suggests deliberate nonconformity—not failing to fit in, but choosing not to: She's always marched to the beat of a different drummer, pursuing art while her siblings went into law.
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- go against the grainOppose prevailing tendencies
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- free-thinkingIndependently minded
think outside the box · imagination · self-reliance · eccentricity · maverick · wild card · Thoreau · road less traveled · ingenuity · color outside the lines · outsider · originality · idiosyncrasy · independence · trailblazer · inventiveness · self-actualization · counterculture
march to the beat of a different drummerconformist
One following accepted norms
follow the crowd · go with the flow · sheep · toe the line · fall in line
march to the beat of a different drummerconventional
Following accepted practices
orthodox · traditional · mainstream · ordinary · run-of-the-mill
march to the beat of a different drummerconform
Behave as expected
go with the flow · follow the crowd · toe the line · fall in line · go along to get along
marched, marching, marches, marcher, marchers, beaten, beating, beater, beaters