oneself
reflexive pronoun for generic one
The reflexive pronoun used with one, meaning the same person who does the action also receives or affects the action.
[one] [verb] oneself
- One should protect oneself from the sun by wearing sunscreen.
- When one speaks in public, one must prepare oneself carefully.
- If one pushes oneself too hard, one may become ill.
- It is important for one to allow oneself time to rest.
- One must teach oneself to stay calm in difficult situations.
- One must wash oneself every day.
- When one is sick, one should take care of oneself.
- One can hurt oneself if one is not careful.
- Sometimes one has to push oneself to finish a task.
- One should not blame oneself for every small mistake.
the same person, personally or alone
Used after one to show that the same person does something alone or for that person’s own good, not with or for other people.
[one] [verb] for oneself
- One should see the evidence for oneself before forming an opinion.
- These days one often has to do many things for oneself.
- It is important that one decide for oneself what career to follow.
- By living alone, one learns to look after oneself.
- One can cook healthy meals for oneself without spending much money.
- One should try the food and taste it for oneself.
- Sometimes one must make a hard choice for oneself.
- One can live by oneself and still be happy.
- One should check the facts for oneself.
- One may want to see the city for oneself, not just in pictures.
- Base: oneself
- Plural: oneselves
apply oneself
1work hard and steadily
To work hard and give a lot of attention to something you are doing.
- If one applies oneself, one can improve quickly.
- At school, one needs to apply oneself to every subject, not just the easy ones.
avail oneself of [something]
1make use of something offered
To use something that is offered, such as a service, chance, or help.
- One should avail oneself of all the resources in the library.
- Guests may avail themselves of the hotel gym, but in general statements one can say that one may avail oneself of the facilities.
be oneself
1act in your natural way
To act in your normal, natural way, not trying to copy or please others.
- In formal writing one might say that one should simply be oneself in any interview.
- When one is relaxed, one is more able to be oneself.
commit oneself to [something]
1promise strongly to do or support
To make a strong promise to do something or to support an idea or plan.
- Before one commits oneself to a course, one should check all the details.
- One should be careful before committing oneself to a long contract.
content oneself with [something]
1accept less than desired
To accept something that is not everything you want, because you cannot get more.
- Sometimes one must content oneself with a simple meal.
- When tickets sell out, one may have to content oneself with watching the event on television.
control oneself
1keep emotions and actions under control
To stop yourself from showing strong feelings or doing something you should not do.
- In a heated discussion, one must learn to control oneself.
- When one is angry, it can be hard to control oneself and speak politely.
enjoy oneself
1have a good time
To have fun and feel happy when you are doing something.
- On holiday, one should forget one’s worries and enjoy oneself.
- If one cannot relax and enjoy oneself, the trip will not feel like a break.
find oneself
1end up in a situation
To be in a situation or place without planning it, often suddenly or by surprise.
- One may find oneself working much longer hours than expected.
- After the wrong turn, one can suddenly find oneself in a completely different part of town.
for oneself
1for one’s own benefit or use
To do, choose, or get something for your own good or use, not for other people.
- One should think critically and decide for oneself.
- He wanted to see the film for himself, but in formal style one might write that one wants to see it for oneself.
keep oneself to oneself
1be private and not social
To be a very private person and not talk much about your life or spend a lot of time with other people.
- In a big city, one often keeps oneself to oneself.
- At first, one may keep oneself to oneself in a new job until one feels more confident.
lose oneself in [something]
1become completely absorbed in something
To pay so much attention to an activity that you forget about other things around you.
- One can lose oneself in a good book for hours.
- Sometimes one loses oneself in work and forgets to take a break.
pride oneself on [something]
1be proud of something about yourself
To feel proud because you have a special skill, quality, or thing.
- One might pride oneself on being punctual.
- A company may pride itself on good customer service, but in formal general statements one can say that one prides oneself on quality.
by oneself
1alone, without company or help
To be or do something with no other people there and with no one helping.
- She fixed the car by herself.
- She prefers to study by herself, but in formal writing one might say that one studies by oneself.
- He prefers to eat by himself.
- Living by oneself can teach one a lot about responsibility.
- One can feel lonely when one spends too many evenings by oneself.
concern oneself with [something]
1involve oneself in something
To be interested in or take care about something.
- He doesn't concern himself with politics.
- One should not concern oneself with rumours.
- You shouldn't concern yourself with their arguments.
- In this report, one will concern oneself only with economic factors.
express oneself
1Communicate your thoughts or feelings
To say or show what you think or feel clearly.
- She finds it hard to express herself in English.
- Through art, one can express oneself without words.
- He uses music to express himself.
- In another language, one may find it hard to express oneself clearly.