Dictionary

contemplate one's navel en · VERB

Meanings

1. To spend time thinking about oneself or one's own interests, especially to the exclusion of others.
   • If you sit and contemplate your navel long enough, the answers to all of the problems in the world will pass before your eyes. 1978, Don Darling, “The inadvertent adversary to nuclear security—ourselves”, in Joel Kramer, editor, The Role of Behavioral Science in Physical Security, page 1:
   • But mainly he wanted to dwell on his resentments, contemplate his navel and work himself into a mean, sullen mood, because that’s the way he plays best. 1969 September, Marshall Smith, “This old pro is just too mean to quit”, in Life, page 77:
   • People keep coming to me for advice that they go on to ignore, so I've decided to stop wasting effort on ingrates and instead dedicate more time to contemplating my navel and my many other attractive features and admirable qualities.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see contemplate, navel.

Forms

Relateds

navel-gazing

Translations (3)

fr se regarder le nombril (Translations) · fi tuijottaa omaan napaansa (Translations) · nl navelstaren (Translations)