Plz help me find a phrase opposite to "fall into line"

[Jenniferhu]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and I very much expect days, weeks, months, and years of both helping and being helped in this nice English learning community. This thread, my first post, will have to fall into the latter category.

Is there a phrase or idiom that describes a situation where people show their distinctive personalities, ways of speaking and thinking and living, etc., in a social setting? A antonym for "fall into line"?

Thanks!

Jenny

[amigos4]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and I very much expect days, weeks, months, and years of both helping and being helped in this nice English learning community. This thread, my first post, will have to fall into the latter category.

Is there a phrase or idiom that describes a situation where people show their distinctive personalities, ways of speaking and thinking and living, etc., in a social setting? A antonym for "fall into line"?

Thanks!

Jenny

Welcome to the forum, Jenny!


Are you looking for a 'synonym' (rather than an 'antonym') for "fall into line"?


When one 'falls into line' they become 'one of the gang' or 'a member of the group'.

Cheers,
Amigos4

[Rover_KE]

No - Jenny wants an antonym, like 'he does his own thing', 'she refuses to toe the line', 'he's one on his own', 'she's one of a kind', 'I'm an individualist'.

There must be better examples, but that's the best I can do at the moment.

Rover

[Jenniferhu]

No - Jenny wants an antonym, like 'he does his own thing', 'she refuses to toe the line', 'he's one on his own', 'she's one of a kind', 'I'm an individualist'.

There must be better examples, but that's the best I can do at the moment.

Rover

Yes, Rover was right. I need to find something like those you've suggested, Rover, to fit in the preset context of a Chinese essay about language and identity. But they were all a little too informal. "Showing one’s own characteristics" is a word-for-word translation I worked out, but it sounded a bit ... awkward and Chinglish, I think.

Anyway, thanks to Rover for his suggestions. They are very useful in other places.

Think hard, dear friends!

Jenny

[Tullia]

Would "to remain true to oneself" work?

[TheParser]

Think hard, dear friends!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Here in the United States of America, some people say:

Tom marches to his own tune. (He definitely does not toe the line.)

[Jenniferhu]

Would "to remain true to oneself" work?

Umm...not much sense of "showing". More of a personal feeling. But thanks anyway.

Jenny

[Jenniferhu]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Here in the United States of America, some people say:

Tom marches to his own tune. (He definitely does not toe the line.)

This is really helpful! Going well with "fall into line." May be winning if nothing more suitable comes up! Thanks!

Jenny