take on a life of its own
phrase
: to become very large, important, or hard to control
The story took on a life of its own and began to appear on news broadcasts everywhere.
Cite this Entry
“Take on a life of its own.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on%20a%20life%20of%20its%20own. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
