apply oneself
Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You will succeed if you apply yourself to your studies.”
“If you really apply yourself to this project, you can finish it before the deadline.”
“The professor noted that the student possessed great natural talent, yet he would only excel if he chose to apply himself with greater consistency.”
- 01
adorn oneself with borrowed plumes
To claim the honor of another for oneself.
- 02
be oneself
To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.
- 03
bear oneself
To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.
- 04
box oneself into a corner
To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
- 05
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 06
carry oneself
To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.
- 07
come to oneself
To gain consciousness or self-control.
- 08
cop oneself on
to cop on, stop behaving immaturely
Last updated August 10, 2026