独り歩き

ひとりあるき【独り歩き】

¶ → 独り歩きする

¶うわさが～している

The rumor has got out of control.

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ひとりあるき【独り歩き】

1 〔頼らず歩くこと〕 walking [being able to walk] on one's own; walking without help; 〔独立〕 independence; standing on one's own feet.

●この子はひとり歩きができるようになった. He [She] can [has learned to] walk by himself [herself] now.

●彼はまだ社会に出てひとり歩きはできない. He can't yet stand on his own two feet (in the world). | He's not yet independent enough to go out into the world [strike out on his own].

・その新会社はまだひとり歩きできていない. The new company can't yet stand on its own (two) feet [isn't yet strong enough to cut its links (with the parent company)].

2 〔勝手に意味を持つこと〕

～する develop [take on, assume] a life of 《its》 own; generate 《its》 own momentum; become unstoppable.

●うわさがひとり歩きしている. The rumor has developed a life of its own [become unstoppable].

・この 1 行だけが作品から離れてひとり歩きしたのだ. That single line, taken out of context, has developed a life of its own.

・3%という数字だけがひとり歩きしている. The figure of 3% has taken on a life of its own.