take matters into one's own hands
To deal with a problem alone instead of waiting on others (often persons who are responsible and have failed to deal with the issue).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Nobody fixed the broken door, so I took matters into my own hands.”
“After waiting weeks for the landlord to repair the leak, she took matters into her own hands and hired a plumber herself.”
“Frustrated by the committee's endless delays, the director took matters into her own hands to ensure the project met its critical deadline.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026