phrase
Lone Wolf
Someone who operates alone โ by preference or by exclusion.
Origin
Real wolves are pack animals; a 'lone wolf' is usually one ejected from a pack or seeking to start one. The English phrase appeared in the late 19th century and was already metaphorical by then. The criminal-justice usage ('lone-wolf attacker' โ an individual acting outside a coordinated group) became standard in the 2000s.
Modern usage
Used both as a compliment (independent, self-sufficient) and a warning (unaffiliated and unpredictable). The dating-app and self-help versions tend to flatter; the news version doesn't.
Tags
solitary
independence