The preposition "on"

Question

In the phrase "on your own", what does the preposition "on" mean?

GPY · Accepted Answer

It is an idiomatic phrase. There seems no benefit in trying to separate out a meaning for "on".

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous In the phrase "on your own", what does the preposition "on" mean?

It has almost no meaning of its own. It's not a good idea to learn English by piecing together word definitions one word at a time. Learn phrases.
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Nevertheless, of something like 25 definitions of "on" which you can find in most dictionaries, the definition which I find is closest to the definition needed to understand the phrase "on your own" is this one:

on: used for saying which part of your body is supporting you

He propped himself up on an elbow and looked me in the eye.
She gets down on her knees every night and prays for her family.
Can you skate backward on one leg?

It is used metaphorically in "on your own" to mean "supporting yourself alone", "without support from others".

You must do this task on your own.> You must do it through your own efforts, with no support from others.
The boy was left on his own.> He had to live alone through his own efforts, with no support from others.

CJ

The preposition "on"

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