ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pull oneself up by one's bootstraps

idiom

To begin an enterprise or recover from a setback without any outside help; to succeed only by one's own efforts or abilities.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    adorn oneself with borrowed plumes

    To claim the honor of another for oneself.

  6. 06

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  8. 08

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

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