march to the beat of a different drum
MARCH to the BEET uv uh DIF-uh-runt DRUM
mɑːrtʃ tə ðə biːt əv ə ˈdɪfrənt drʌmListen
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Dictionary meaning
to live or behave according to one's own values, rhythms, and convictions rather than conforming to the expectations and norms of the surrounding society or group; originating from a passage in Henry David Thoreau's Walden in which he describes hearing a different drummer whose beat one must follow even if it leads away from the crowd, the phrase celebrates nonconformity as an authentic response to genuine inner conviction rather than mere rebelliousness; marching to the beat of a different drum implies not just deviation from norms but a positive alternative ordering of priorities guided by deeply held personal values
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