take on a life of its own

idiom

: 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.

Examples of take on a life of its own in a Sentence

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The Hamm's phenomenon began to take on a life of its own, Ramirez said. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2021 Once a child-abuse pediatrician diagnoses abuse, that assessment can take on a life of its own in family court. — Stephanie Clifford, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2020

Rhymes for take on a life of its own

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take on
take on a life of its own
take on (a) new life
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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 27 Mar. 2025.

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