- Home
- Idioms
- leave to own devices
leave to own devices
leave you to your own devices
to allow you to decide for yourself what you do Most of the time, the prisoners were left to their own devices by the guards. When the two sides were left to their own devices, they managed to agree on terms for a new contract.
leave somebody to their own devices
to let someone do what they want without helping them or trying to control them (usually passive) There are four hours of lessons each morning, and in the afternoon students are left to their own devices. Left to my own devices I wouldn't bother cooking in the evenings.
leave to (one's) own devices
1. To allow (someone) to do as he or she pleases: left the child to her own devices for an hour.
2. To force (someone) to cope or manage without assistance: Most people would die in the desert if left to their own devices.