to each his own
everyone has different preferences; respect them
In Spanish
everyone has different preferences; respect them
Examples
- I'd never live in the suburbs, but to each his own.
- She prefers reading romance novels, but to each his own.
- He loves pineapple on pizza, and I say to each his own.
When it's used
The idiom is informal and often used in casual conversation to acknowledge and respect differing tastes and preferences. It's a way to express tolerance or avoid conflict in discussions about personal likes.
The common mistake
A common mistake is using 'to each his own' in formal writing where it sounds too colloquial. English speakers typically reserve it for informal contexts, and using it formally can seem out of place or overly casual.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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