“To Each His Own” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 12, 2024 by Liam Daniel

This reference covers the idiom “To Each His Own” and its various meanings. When someone says “To Each His Own,” they imply respecting individual differences in preferences. This phrase is common in modern culture, an example of using few words for clear communication. This guide will help you grasp how idioms function in language to convey specific meanings efficiently.

“To Each His Own” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “to each his own” means that everyone has their own preferences, tastes, or opinions, and it expresses acceptance of differing choices or lifestyles. It implies that what may be suitable or enjoyable for one person may not be the same for another, and that individuality should be respected.
To Each His Own
To Each His Own – Created by 7ESL

“To Each His Own” Meaning

The phrase “to each his own” means that everyone has their own preferences, tastes, or opinions, and those should be respected. It acknowledges that individuals are entitled to their own choices and beliefs, even if they differ from one another.

Examples:

  • “I don’t understand why he likes that music, but to each his own.”
  • “Some people prefer the city life, while others love the countryside; to each his own!”

Origin of This Idiom

There is some controversy as to the origin of the idiom, “to each his own”. Once idea says it came from the Shakespeare play, Macbeth. In the play, Polonius says, “to each his own, thine self be true” in a speech to his son, Ursis. The meaning is slightly different that modern culture’s usage, but the thought is the same. However, there are those who believe this is far from the origin of the idiom.

The actual origin could go farther back in history to the Roman author and politician, Cicero, who has been noted to making the Latin saying a popular term.

Whichever is the real origin of the idiom doesn’t matter, today’s pop culture has added it to its realm of popular phrases and idioms. The common attempt of saying the most in the fewest amount of words or letters on social media has spread the phrase across the globe.

Usage of “To Each His Own”

  • In a discussion about preferences:

“Some people love pineapple on pizza, while others can’t stand it. To each his own!”

  • Talking about lifestyle choices:

“I prefer quiet evenings at home, but my friends enjoy going out. To each his own.”

  • In a conversation about fashion:

“She loves bright colors and bold patterns, but I prefer more subdued styles. To each his own!”

  • Discussing hobbies:

“I find knitting relaxing, while my brother prefers hiking. To each his own!”

Related Terms to “To Each His Own”

  • Different strokes for different folks – everyone has different preferences and tastes.
  • Live and let live – accept that people have different lifestyles or opinions.
  • Variety is the spice of life – diversity in choices makes life interesting.
  • Each to their own – a more concise version of the phrase emphasizing individual choices.
  • What suits one may not suit another – acknowledging that personal preferences vary.
  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – perceptions of beauty are subjective.
  • One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – what is worthless to one person may be valuable to another.
  • Personal choice – emphasizing the right of individuals to make their own decisions.
  • Subjective taste – highlighting that preferences are personal and vary from person to person.
  • To each their own opinion – emphasizing respect for different viewpoints.

Other Ways to Say “To Each His Own”

There are multiple ways of saying “to each his own” in other ways. They include but are not limited to the following.

“To Each His Own” Examples

Examples in Sentences

  • “Some people love the thrill of extreme sports, while others prefer a quiet day at the beach. To each his own!”
  • “I don’t understand why he enjoys that kind of music, but hey, to each his own.”
  • “She prefers to travel solo, while her sister enjoys group tours. To each his own when it comes to exploring the world.”
  • “Some people swear by meditation for relaxation, while others find it boring. To each his own.”
  • “I find that restaurant overpriced, but my friends love it. To each his own when it comes to dining out.”

Examples in Conversations

Ways you will find the phrase “to each his own” used.

Example 1:

  • Girl 1: Hey do you like apples?
  • Girl 2: Yeah, I love red ones the best.
  • Girl 1: Nope, for me it’s the green.
  • Girl 2: Green ones are to bitter for me.
  • Girl 1: To each his own.
  • Girl 2: True.

A simple conversation about apples and how one girl likes green and the other says they taste almost sour, the other girl responds with a simple ‘to each his own’ as a way of saying everyone’s opinion is different.

Example 2:

  • Chat User 1: Did you guys hear about the new Call Of Duty game?
  • Chat User 2: Yeah, looks insane.
  • Chat User 1: Yeah, I can’t wait!
  • Chat User 3: Looks dumb and just like the last 3…
  • Chat User 2: To each his own…

Here a chat user uses the phrase as a way of being nice and saying he has his thoughts, but so do the other gamers.

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