If I had my druthers

Definitions

• expressing a preference or choice
  To indicate what one would do or choose if they had the opportunity or ability to do so

• hypothetical situation
  To discuss a hypothetical situation or express a wish for something that is not currently possible

Examples of If I had my druthers

• I wish I had the freedom to make all the decisions without any interference. If I had my druthers, I would run my own business instead of being an employee.

  "If I had my druthers" is a colloquial phrase meaning "if I had my way" or "if things were ideal for me." In this example, the speaker is expressing their desire to have complete control over their career choices and not be bound by someone else's authority. They would rather be their own boss than work for someone else.

• If I had my druthers, I would quit my job and travel the world.

  "If I had my way or preference," is the meaning behind "If I had my druthers." In this example, the speaker is expressing their desire to leave their current job and take a journey around the globe instead.

• You should have seen the traffic this morning. It was bumper to bumper all the way to work. If I had my druthers, I would have worked from home.

  In this scenario, the speaker is saying that if they had the choice, they would have preferred to work remotely rather than dealing with heavy traffic on their commute to the office.

• If I had my druthers, I would have asked for a raise before my boss announced the company-wide salary freeze.

  Here, the speaker is regretting their decision to not request a pay increase before their employer implemented a wage freeze for the whole company. They're using the idiom to express their disappointment in not taking action sooner.

• I'm sick of hearing about the pandemic. If I had my druthers, we'd all be fully vaccinated by now.

  In this instance, the speaker is frustrated by the ongoing health crisis and wishing that everyone had received their shots already. By using "If I had my druthers," they're indicating that they feel powerless to hasten the vaccination process.

Conclusion

The idiom "If I had my druthers" is used to express a preference or choice in a hypothetical situation. It is often used to discuss what one would do or choose if given the opportunity or ability to do so. It can also be used to express a wish for something that is not currently possible.

Origin of "If I had my druthers"

The idiom "If I had my druthers" originated in the United States in the 19th century. The word "druthers" is a colloquial term that is a contraction of "would rather." The idiom is believed to have originated in the American South and is often associated with rural or Southern dialects. It is used to express a wish or preference for a different situation, often in a lighthearted or humorous manner.

One possible origin of the idiom is from the American playwright and humorist George Ade, who popularized the phrase in his writing in the late 1800s. The idiom has since become a common expression in American English, used to playfully express one's desires or wishes in a hypothetical scenario.