march to the beat of one's own drummer
Follow personal rhythm
To march to the beat of one's own drummer is to live according to your own values and instincts rather than conforming to social expectations.
The image is of a marcher who hears music no one else does: She's always marched to the beat of her own drummer—dropped out of law school to become a beekeeper.
The phrase derives from Thoreau's *Walden* and usually carries approval, suggesting independence rather than mere eccentricity.
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- free spiritUninhibited, unconventional person
- innovationCreating something original
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- rugged individualismPhilosophy of personal independence
defiance · maverick · wild card · eccentricity · personal agency · freedom · imagination · authenticity · iconoclasm · uniqueness · one of a kind · bohemian · originality · ingenuity · self-determination · go against the grain · inspiration · rebellion
march to the beat of one's own drummerconform
Behave as expected
follow the crowd · fall in line · go with the flow · toe the line · keep up with the Joneses
march to the beat of one's own drummerimitate
Reproduce another's behavior
jump on the bandwagon · mimic · parrot · follow in someone's footsteps
march to the beat of one's own drummerfollow orders
marches, marched, marching, marcher, marchers, beater, beaters, drummed, drummer