I am my own girl

English translation: independend/working on one\'s own

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:I am my own girl
Selected answer:independend/working on one\'s own
Entered by: Noha Mostafa

08:08 Jan 5, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tourism & Travel / An Orientation to Hotel Staff
English term or phrase: I am my own girl
This phrase appeared in a hotel staff training urging staff to be independent. Is it an idiom? What does it mean?
Noha Mostafa
Egypt
Local time: 13:56
independend/working on one's own
Explanation:
It means that the person, perhaps the maid or receptionist, will work independently and without a supervisor always having to tell her what she must do and when it needfs to be done.

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Note added at 21 hrs (2012-01-06 05:41:15 GMT)
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Independent - of course.
Selected response from:

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 12:56
Grading comment
Thank you so much Thayenga. Your answer was the most helpful.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +3independend/working on one's own
Thayenga
4 +1I'm not a clone/I have my own style/I put my own stamp on things
Yvonne Gallagher
3 +1I have enough initiative to take decisions
Martin Riordan
2nobody tells me what to do
Jonathan MacKerron
4 -2I don't like to be told/I have mind of my own
Alexandra Taggart


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
i am my own girl
I have enough initiative to take decisions


Explanation:
If the hotel is encouraging staff to think like this, it cannot mean someone who doesn't take orders. But it could mean someone who can think for herself and doesn't have to refer to her supervisor all the time concerning less important decisions.

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 08:56
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Most likely. This would be a good trait for staff to have.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tina!
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
i am my own girl
nobody tells me what to do


Explanation:
is another possible interpretation, but we could need more context to be sure

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Note added at 4 hrs (2012-01-05 13:07:08 GMT)
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Perhaps
"I am unswerving in carrying out tasks delegated to me"?

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Note added at 5 hrs (2012-01-05 13:09:43 GMT)
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I am not easily swayed by others (?)

Jonathan MacKerron
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Jonathan. The sentence was followed only by "I'm independent."


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: could be understood as "I won't take orders from anyone"// or if your emphasis is on "nobody" or "me". prost.
16 mins
  -> we need to know if this is meant in a positive or negative context

neutral  Tony M: I agree with the concern expressed by Cilian.
6 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
i am my own girl
I don't like to be told/I have mind of my own


Explanation:
It could be either, negative or positive, this expression may sound differently being said in different situations . If it negative - she tells somebody off; if it positive - it could be an excuse, she is saying that she has things to do and cannot be involved in the suggested (whatever), she's minding her own business only. Why "she"? A man can say this as well, because it is an expression and would not be understood in a vulgar sense.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:23:04 GMT)
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'I'm my own girl' = 'I'm my own man' - equally used.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:42:39 GMT)
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11413125

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:44:01 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'm_My_Own_Grandpa

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:47:13 GMT)
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http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/2650/hamilton-exclusi...

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:54:00 GMT)
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8287480.stm

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Note added at 9 hrs (2012-01-05 17:54:52 GMT)
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http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebr...

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Note added at 12 hrs (2012-01-05 21:04:45 GMT)
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Thank you for your comment, I've tried my best not to say something sleezy.

Alexandra Taggart
Russian Federation
Local time: 14:56
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Alexandra for your concern. I believe that it has to do with HR and should be positive attitude.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: Again, as Cilian pointed out earlier, this risks having a pretty strong negative connotation, which might be unwelcome in an HR situation
15 mins
  -> OK. I'll provide examples.

disagree  Cilian O'Tuama: That's almost English, but not native.// Oh dear.
7 hrs
  -> There's no such a term in English language as "native English". You have to add a noun: native English -what/who?

disagree  Kim Metzger: "I have mind of my own" is almost English, but to have a mind of your own means to do things the way you see fit.
7 hrs
  -> Correct.
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
i am my own girl
I'm not a clone/I have my own style/I put my own stamp on things


Explanation:
in other words, she is not a sheep but a leader and style setter. She can take initiative and decisions and work out what needs to be done while doing things in her own way

I think it's normal enough to say "girl" rather than woman here as it is idiomatic

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 11:56
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: I like the second and third options. Not too keen on the first.
27 mins
  -> many thanks Kim and Happy New Year!
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
i am my own girl
independend/working on one's own


Explanation:
It means that the person, perhaps the maid or receptionist, will work independently and without a supervisor always having to tell her what she must do and when it needfs to be done.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2012-01-06 05:41:15 GMT)
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Independent - of course.

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 12:56
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you so much Thayenga. Your answer was the most helpful.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  airmailrpl: independend => independent ??
5 hrs
  -> Yes, a typo. Thank you. :)

agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Never mind the typo, its a good suggestion. 'Able to work independently' is a common HR expression.
11 hrs
  -> Yes, it is. Thank you, Tina. :)

agree  AllegroTrans: "I am an independent person"
17 hrs
  -> Thank you. :)

agree  3ADE shadab
22 hrs
  -> Thank you, Mohd shadab. :)
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