road less traveled
The harder route
A metaphor for unconventional choices or paths through life that few others take.
The phrase comes from Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," though the poem is often misread as endorsing nonconformity when it actually treats the choice as arbitrary.
Still, taking the road less traveled now reliably means choosing the unusual or difficult path: She took the road less traveled and started her own company instead of joining a firm.
- trailPath through wilderness
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- uniquenessQuality of being singular
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- independenceFreedom from external control
Robert Frost · pathway · off the beaten path · divergence · freedom · moral dilemmas · existentialism · wilderness · crossroads · unconventionality · creativity · pioneering spirit · courage · risk-taking · introspection · personal journey · destiny · mud
- independencefreedom, liberty, Independence Day, autonomy, sovereignty
- Famous Poetrynevermore, to be or not to be, jabberwocky, daffodils, Kubla Khan
- Literary Phrasesto be or not to be, carpe diem, et tu Brute, call me Ishmael, once upon a time
road less traveledbeaten path
Much-traveled route
mainstream · status quo · conformity · path of least resistance · following the crowd
road less traveledeasy way
path of least resistance · easy street · smooth sailing · easy way out · shortcut
road less traveledsafe bet
Likely winning wager
sure thing · safe choice · playing it safe · known quantity · safe harbor
road, roads, roadway, roadways, roadside, roadsides, less, lessen, lessened