Dictionary

be oneself en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.
   • Seeing Murphy's long pushed aside mushy feelings is a sweet moment. It almost feels inevitable that these two would find each other. Murphy has found someone she can be herself around and a built-in family with a surrogate daughter who understands what Murphy has gone through. 2019 July 19, Kaitlin Reilly, “Who Is The Murderer On In The Dark? You'll Never Guess This Crazy Twist”, in Refinery29, archived from the original on 19 Aug 2023:
   • I've heard players saying I am like a different person this season and it's true. When you are back with the team you can be yourself again, you can join in the fun and express yourself more normally. 2015 October 3, Paul Wilson, quoting Arouna Koné, “Fighting fit Arouna Koné making the most of his comeback for Everton”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Nov 2015:
   • She was also there when I cut my hair, which sounds trite, but for me it was a big deal. I've been on hormones three years now and I'm almost at the point of where I want to be. I feel like I'm finally myself. 2020 November 14, Gayle MacDonald, quoting Oliver Lane, “Match: Time spent apart only strengthened Amy and Oliver’s decision to be together”, in The Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON: The Woodbridge Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Nov 2020:
   • All you have to do is be yourself.
2. (idiomatic) To be as one usually is, as opposed to being sick, depressed, etc.
   • One bright June afternoon, he pulled us aside and told us he wasn't himself. He was doing what he loved most — playing basketball, swimming in the lake — but he couldn't enjoy anything. 2023 February 9, David Brooks, “How Do You Serve a Friend in Despair?”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023:
   • At that moment it seemed to me that everything was possible for Monica and me; and going up to her I said, "I've never seen you like this!" With her eyes still closed she said, "I'm not myself today!" She began to laugh. Then I began to laugh, because of what we had both said, and because of her laughter and the sun and the sky and the lake. 2011 November 6, Steven Millhauser, “Miracle Polish”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Jun 2023:
   • What's wrong? You're not yourself today.
   • I also think it is because I portray myself, I am more confident and outgoing - I am finally myself again. 2023 April 4, Ellen Coughlan, quoting Whitney Pepper, “I tipped the scales at 299Ibs and lost over half my body weight - but now I'm addicted to SHOPPING and spend over $1000 a month on clothes”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Apr 2023:

Forms

Relateds

find oneself · to thine own self be true

Translations (14)

ar كَانَ نَفْسَكَ (to act naturally) · hu természetesen / spontán módon viselkedik (to act naturally) · hu összhangban van önmagával (to act naturally) · pl być sobą (to act naturally) · tl maging sarili ng isa (to act naturally) · hu magát adja (to act naturally) · ar كَانَ نَفْسَكِ (to act naturally) · br bezit c'hwi (to act naturally) · de selbst sein (to act naturally) · pt ser si mesmo (to act naturally) · hu önmaga (to act naturally) · fr être soi-même (to act naturally) · fi olla oma itsensä (to act naturally) · ru быть сами́м собо́й (to act naturally)