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Pull Oneself up by One's Bootstraps

What Does "Pull Oneself up by One's Bootstraps" Mean?

homeidiomsPull Oneself up by One's Bootstraps
"Pull oneself up by one's bootstraps" is an English idiom. It means "to achieve success or improve one's circumstances through one's own efforts, determination, and hard work, often starting from a disadvantaged position."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "pull oneself up by one's bootstraps" used in a sentence:
  • He managed to pull himself up by his bootstraps, going from poverty to financial stability through education and entrepreneurship.
  • She believed in the power of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps and worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles.
  • The story of his journey from adversity to success serves as an inspiring example of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps.
meaning for pull oneself up by one's bootstraps

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pull Oneself up by One's Bootstraps" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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