On one's own meaning in English

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Definition

(I finished this project) all on my own, on my own: (I finished this project) by myself, with no help, alone idiom
You're on your own!: You're by yourself! Fix it yourself! I'm not helping you! idiom

Examples

  • "Edward : Forget it Jean, I'm going to be brave and go to the rock gig all on my own, like a big boy..."
  • "You're on your own."
  • "There's this battle of the bands at a little bar I know and I'd really love to go, but not on my own."
  • "I'll raise it on my own."
  • "You're all capable of sorting out a printer jam on your own."
  • "Nobody makes it on their own"
Exercise 1
True or false? Donna thinks that Bethany must make a decision about the baby on her own.
True or false? Donna thinks that Bethany must make a decision about the baby on her own.
This statement is not true.
This is a false statement. Donna tells Bethany that she should speak to her husband "Dan" about the baby. She then says that this is a "decision that (they) should be making together". Donna doesn't believe Bethany should make this decision "on her own" (by herself or without any help). Rather, she encourages Bethany to talk to her husband. To do something "on one's own" is to do it alone or without any help. Example: I built this house on my own.
See me after class. I'll teach you about the birds and the bees.
Exercise 2
"Today, our very own Jean Marron has chosen a topic."

Choose the statements that use "own" correctly. There may be more than one correct answer!
"Today, our very own Jean Marron has chosen a topic."

Choose the statements that use "own" correctly. There may be more than one correct answer!
This is a good example, and uses "our very own" in the same way as in the meeting. This expression is used to refer to someone we all know and love. Example: "This perfume was created by our very own Horatio Oléré".
This sentence uses "own" correctly. "My own bedroom" is a bedroom which is exclusively mine, and which I don't share with anyone else. Here's another example: "Do you have your own car, or will you need to rent one from a garage?".
This is a good sentence. To "own" something is to "possess" it. Example: "Do you own your house, or do you rent it?".
This sentence is incorrect. We could say either "I did this work on my own" or "I did this work alone", to express that nobody helped you with the work.

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