by (oneself)
1. Alone. Because there's usually so much going on with the kids, I really enjoy spending a quiet Saturday night by myself. A: "I'm impressed that you went to the baseball game by yourself." B: "Well, what was I supposed to do? No one wanted to go with me!" Most of the kids are ff playing outside—who's the boy sitting by himself in front of the TV?
2. Through one's own efforts alone. You can't move that table all by yourself! Here, let me help you. My little girl loves to get dressed by herself, so tutus and cowboy boots have become the norm around here. Pete managed to disassemble their washing machine, fix the leak, and then reassemble it all by himself? Wow, I had no idea he was so handy!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
by yourself
1. with no one else present; alone. Do you want to sit here by yourself, or can I sit here too? Don't sit at home by yourself. Come to the movie with me.
2. with the help of no one else. Can you really do all this cooking by yourself? Bill, can you lift this box by yourself?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.