take it upon oneself

Idioms & Phrases

take it upon oneself

Also, take on oneself. Undertake something, as in I took it upon myself to count the precise number of children in the audience, or She took it on herself to enter a convent. [Second half of 1400s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Take it upon oneself is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

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"Authoritarian methods do not produce independence: they reinforce dependence. Independent functioning is not simply the ability to do something, but also the ability to decide what to do. It is not only the ability to take care of oneself. It is also the ability to take responsibility for oneself. Autonomy and independence do not grow out of being told what to do and when to do it. It is only by having his needs considered, by becoming a participant in the decision-making process, that a child develops the capacity for autonomy."

-Elaine Heffner

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