footloose and fancy-free

Idioms and Phrases

Having no attachments, especially romantic ones, and free to do as one pleases. For example, When I was in my twenties, footloose and fancy-free, I would travel at the drop of a hat . Both of these words have long been used separately; their pairing dates only from the 1900s.

Example Sentences

He left in 2016, spending his days footloose and fancy-free at the Oakland Zoo.

From Seattle Times

It’s like “Lord of the Flies” but with sex, and Charlotte’s footloose and fancy-free ways don’t conform to the social norms.

From Los Angeles Times

So I’m feeling, uh, footloose and fancy-free?

From Literature

Their geographical behaviour is limited and predictable, not footloose and fancy-free.

From Economist

Nearly six years ago, the then-36-year-old was footloose and fancy-free.

From Washington Times