Pull yourself together

Meaning

The idiom "pull yourself together" means to get organized or compose oneself, especially when feeling disrupted or upset. It can also mean to gather one's thoughts and make a plan of action. The figurative meaning suggests that the person is pulling themselves out of a difficult situation and taking control of their life.

Usage

• When I'm feeling overwhelmed, my therapist tells me to pull myself together and focus on one thing at a time.
• After her argument with her partner, she pulled herself together and decided to take a break from the relationship.
• The company had been struggling financially for years, so when the CEO stepped down, they needed to pull themselves together and come up with a new plan.
• When I first moved to a new city, I felt homesick and alone, but I pulled myself together and started volunteering at a local charity.
• The team had been losing games left and right, so when the coach gave them a pep talk, they pulled themselves together and played their best game yet.

Roots and History

The idiom "pull yourself together" has its roots in the 16th century when it was used to refer to the act of gathering one's self-control or fortitude. It is believed to have originated from the idea that a person can only pull themselves together and focus on their strengths during difficult times. The idiom may have also been influenced by the idea of pulling oneself out of a difficult situation and taking control of one's life.

Synonyms in English

• Gather your thoughts
• Get yourself together
• Compose yourself
• Collect yourself
• Pull yourself out of it

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Tirer le ventre" (Pull oneself together)
• Spanish: "Llevar a cabo" (Take action)
• German: "Aufheben" (Raise or uplift)
• Italian: "Sporcare il pensiero" (Shake off the thoughts)
• Chinese: "收拾心态" (Organize oneself mentally)

Similar Idioms

• take into account

• vim and vigor

• kick the habit