I left the children to their own devices for an hour.
leave someone to their own devices
idiomto leave alone, unsupervised, without assistance.
The manager prefers to leave her team to their own devices once she explains the main goals.
Rather than micromanaging the creative process, the director chose to leave the actors to their own devices to see how they interpreted the scene.
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as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
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bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
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call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
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call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
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catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
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cry someone a river
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
Last updated April 17, 2026