voler de ses propres ailes

English translation: to fend for oneself

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	voler de ses propres ailes
English translation:	to fend for oneself
Entered by:	Expialidocio (X)

20:43 Oct 22, 2007

French to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

French term or phrase: voler de ses propres ailes

Drawing a blank here. I know it means "to get out on one's own," but I need something more colorful for what I'm working on. Any suggestions for English equivalents of this expression?

Context is a project that a nonprofit organization has been working on for several years, and which is now ready to "voler de ses propres ailes."

Target dialect is American English, but all suggestions are appreciated!

Expialidocio (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 71 (none open) (11 closed without grading) Answers: 379 France
Local time: 00:10

to fend for oneself

Explanation:
to stand on one's own two feet.

Selected response from:

Kévin Bacquet
France
Local time: 00:10

Grading comment

Thanks a lot! All answers were helpful, but this is what I was after.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +6

take off on its own

Michele Fauble

4 +5

to fend for oneself

Kévin Bacquet

4 +1

spread its wings (and fly)

tatyana000

3 +1

to go it alone/stand on its own feet

suezen

suggestions

veratek

3 +1

to sail under its own steam

David Goward

3 +1

fly solo

Kari Foster

leave the nest / fly free

Laurel Clausen

come into its own

Lori Cirefice

The project can now manage itself/take care of itself

MatthewLaSon

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

to fend for oneself

Explanation:
to stand on one's own two feet.

Kévin Bacquet
France
Local time: 00:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

French
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks a lot! All answers were helpful, but this is what I was after.

1 min confidence:

leave the nest / fly free

Explanation:
in keeping with the whole bird imagery...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2007-10-22 20:48:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or: now ready to take off the training wheels (but that could come off as condescending if it doesn't quite fit the context!)

Laurel Clausen
United States
Local time: 17:10
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 9

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

take off on its own

Explanation:
They are just putting up the first money to start the project moving and hope it will now take off on its own.
www.tollroadsnews.com/node/2133

Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 15:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 16

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to go it alone/stand on its own feet

Explanation:
couple more options

suezen
Local time: 00:10
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 63

10 mins confidence:

come into its own

Explanation:
I think this could fit for a project

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2007-10-22 20:55:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

..... dedicated to proton therapy scheduled to ...
www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/04/7-8-julaug/7-8-04-1.html

Yet, in the United States, the field has only recently begun to come into its own, with a number of new facilities dedicated to proton thera

Lori Cirefice
France
Local time: 00:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

spread its wings (and fly)

Explanation:
more bird imagery

tatyana000
Local time: 00:10
Native speaker of: English

5 hrs confidence:

suggestions

Explanation:
what is missing here is more info concerning if they are talking specifically of financial independence, management, or both.

* the project has now reached the point of self-sustaining independence

* the project is now ready to be completely self-sustaining

* the project has now matured into a self-sustaining independence

* the project has now achieved a self-sustaining mode

* the project has now reached a point of being independently managed

* the project is now ready to be independently managed

veratek
Brazil
Local time: 19:10
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

7 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to sail under its own steam

Explanation:
Just to throw another suggestion into the mix!

David Goward
France
Local time: 00:10
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 43

8 hrs confidence:

The project can now manage itself/take care of itself

Explanation:
Hello,

The project can manage on its own now without outside help.

I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 18:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 145

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

fly solo

Explanation:
Aviation (rather than avian) imagery this time!

Kari Foster
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:10
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

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voler de ses propres ailes

English translation: to fend for oneself

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English translation: to fend for oneself

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