# life of its own

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/life-of-its-own
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An independent existence with some characteristics of life.

## Examples

- The rumor has taken on a life of its own.
- The project started as a small hobby, but it soon took on a life of its own and became a full-time business.
- What began as a simple disagreement between neighbors quickly took on a life of its own, eventually involving the entire town in a bitter legal dispute.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.