law unto oneself

law unto oneself
*a law unto oneself
Fig. one who ignores laws or rules; one who sets one's own standards of behavior. (*Typically: be\law unto oneself; become \law unto oneself.) •

You can't get Bill to follow the rules. He's a law unto himself.

Jane is a law unto herself. She's totally unwilling to cooperate.

* * *
{n. phr.}, {literary} A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't like it. * /Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself./ * /Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be a law unto himself./ Compare: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • law unto oneself — {n. phr.}, {literary} A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn t like it. * /Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself./ * /Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • law\ unto\ oneself — n. phr. literary A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn t like it. Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself. Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be a… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • be a law unto oneself — ► be a law unto oneself behave in an unconventional or unpredictable manner. Main Entry: ↑law …   English terms dictionary

  • be a law unto oneself — ● law * * * behave in a manner that is not conventional or predictable …   Useful english dictionary

  • be a law unto oneself — do what one wants, be ruled by no one …   English contemporary dictionary

  • be law unto oneself — using one s own ideas and beliefs as guidelines for behavior …   English contemporary dictionary

  • be a law unto oneself — behave in an unconventional or unpredictable manner. → lavish something on …   English new terms dictionary

  • law — ► NOUN 1) a rule or system of rules recognized by a country or community as regulating the actions of its members and enforced by the imposition of penalties. 2) such rules as a subject of study or as the basis of the legal profession. 3) statute …   English terms dictionary

  • be a law to or unto oneself — idi be a law to or unto oneself, to act independently or unconventionally, esp. without regard for established mores …   From formal English to slang

  • law — n. 1 a a rule enacted or customary in a community and recognized as enjoining or prohibiting certain actions and enforced by the imposition of penalties. b a body of such rules (the law of the land; forbidden under Scots law). 2 the controlling… …   Useful english dictionary

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