It's very American to march to the beat of your own drum, but life can be very different for people in cultures where community and family are paramount.ДЇor a song: Very cheaply to buy or sell something at a very low price.We raised each of our children to be independent, have opinions and march to the beat of their own drums.March to the beat of one's own drum: To be unique by doing things in your own way. My parents are complete opposites: my mother likes everything planned in detail and my father always wants to play things by ear.Yes, I'd love to play tennis but I'm not sure what the weather is going to be like this weekend.Play it by ear: To do something without planning, preparation or practice. When I ran track in high school I was fit as a fiddle.В Now I breathe heavily just walking up the stairs.She can still do cartwheels, pull-ups and push-ups. My 81 year-old grandmother is fit as a fiddle.If you want to succeed at this firm, you need to actively seek out projects as well as toot your own horn.ДЇit as a fiddle: To be in great shape or health.

In general, men find it easier to toot their own hornsВ than women.Toot one's horn: To boast or brag about your talents, successes or accomplishments. That's the fifth time my new manager bragged like a broken recordВ about going to Harvard.Ugh! You sound like a broken record! I already said that I would pick up your dry cleaning after work.Like a broken record: To say something again and again (which becomes annoying to the listener.) We have several products being fine-tuned for production in the next couple of months.I need to fine tuneВ my choreography for the school dance.I hate group projects at school, most of the time none of us sing from the same song sheet.ДЇine tune something: To make something more precise or perfect by making repeated small adjustments.I love working with this volunteer group because we all sing from the same song sheet.

Sing from the same song sheet: You say the same thing or follow the same plan.

If I had known this play would be my swan songВ I would have tried to enjoy it more.

The singer announced the concert would be her swan song.

This game is our swan songВ so let's win it!.

Swan song: The last or final work, effort or performance.

I thought your girlfriend was cool but she made such a song and dance about us watching the game at your place.

The boss always makes a song and dance about the year-end report but everything will be just fine.

We're just going out to dinner, don't make a song and dance about it.

Make a song and dance about something: To make a fuss or exaggerate and complain about something that isn't really important. Here are a few more examples to help make the meaning of these music idioms even clearer:

Finetune idiom