leave the nest
The phrase "leave the nest" metaphorically represents a bird flying away from its nest, symbolizing a person's transition to independence.
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Definition
B2Family Life
(informal, idiomatic)To move out of one's parents' home and start living independently.
Example
- After graduating from college, she decided it was time to leave the nest.
B2Personal Development
(informal, idiomatic)To become self-sufficient and start managing one's own life without parental support.
Example
- At 18, he felt ready to leave the nest and explore the world on his own.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "leave the nest":
fly the coopempty nestfly offfly outtake flightleave overtake winghive offbird's nestleave behindmove outlay an egghave a bird