Alter ego

Meaning

The idiom "alter ego" refers to someone who is similar to a person but different from them, often in terms of their personality or behavior. It can also refer to an alternate version of oneself that one may present to others.

Usage

• "John's outgoing alter ego was always the life of the party." - This sentence implies that John is usually introverted but when he's with friends, he becomes someone else who is outgoing and lively.
• "I wish I could be my alter ego more often. That version of me is so much fun!" - In this sentence, the speaker is referring to a different version of themselves that they enjoy being, which might have a different personality or interests.
• "He's like two completely different people. He's his work self and his home self." - This sentence suggests that there are two different versions of the person in question - one for work and one for home life.
• "She had an alter ego who was very fashionable. She would dress up and go out all the time." - In this sentence, the speaker is referring to a version of themselves that they enjoy presenting to others, which might have a different style or interests than their usual self.
• "I can't seem to be my best self around him. He brings out my alter ego that I don't like." - This sentence implies that there is a version of the speaker that they are not happy with and that it comes out when they're around the other person.

Roots and History

The idiom "alter ego" originated in French, where "alter" means "different" and "eggos" means "id." The word "eggo" is used in psychology to refer to one's self-concept or sense of self. The term "alter egos" was first used in English in the 19th century. The idiom has undergone some changes over time. In early usage, it often referred to someone who had a different personality from their usual self. Over time, however, the idiom has come to refer more broadly to anyone who is similar to a person but different from them. There are no significant cultural or regional variations of this idiom in English. However, in French, there is a similar concept called "double vie" which means living two lives.

Synonyms in English

• Alter ego: another self
• Doppelganger: lookalike
• Double life: living two lives
• Second skin: a way of dressing or behaving that feels comfortable and natural
• Shadow self: a version of oneself that is opposite in behavior or personality

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "double vie" - living two lives
• German: " doppelganger" - lookalike
• Spanish: "alter ego" - another self
• Italian: "doppio vita" - living two lives
• Japanese: "双面人" - someone who is different in front of others than they are behind closed doors

Similar Idioms

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• a wet blanket

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