Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic)Toindependentlymake thedecisionsor perform theduties,tasks, etc. which are one's ownresponsibilityand which affect oneself.1886,Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 6, inJo's Boys[…][1], Boston: Roberts Brothers:"Oh dear, life is pretty tough sometimes, isn't it?" And Nat took his head in both hands. . . ."Very tough, but it is that very struggle with obstacles which does us good. Things have been made easy for you in many ways, but no one can do everything. You mustpaddle your own canoenow."1918,Gene Stratton-Porter, chapter 4, inA Daughter Of The Land:"I am too sorry for words," said Kate. "If I had known your plan, I would have followed it. . . . I thought I had topaddle my own canoe, so I made my own plans."1962,W. Cleon Skousen,So You Want to Raise a Boy?,→ISBN,page241:Junior has now arrived. All the laws which formerly protected him as a “minor” are now inapplicable. No longer does his mom or dad have the responsibility of providing his board and room. They may help out once in a while just because they love him, but, legally speaking, Junior ispaddling his own canoe.2013May 30,Steven Greenhouse, “U.S. Retailers Announce New Factory Safety Plan”, inNew York Times, retrieved3 December 2017:“There is no valid reason why they can’t join the initiative we have launched. It has been well received,” he said, adding, “Now they seem to want topaddle their own canoeon their own terms.”
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