forget oneself

forget (oneself)

To behave in an impolite or unrestrained manner. Sure, sometimes I forget myself and snap at the kids, but doesn't every mother? I'm sorry, I forgot myself for a minute there—let me introduce the two of you. A: "I understand you forgot yourself, but do you really think that screaming at the waitress helped anything?" B: "I know, she's definitely going to spit in my food now."

See also: forget

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

forget oneself

to forget one's manners or training. (Said in formal situations in reference to belching, bad table manners, and, in the case of very young children, pants-wetting.) Sorry, Mother, I forgot myself. John, we are going out to dinner tonight. Please don't forget yourself.

See also: forget

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

forget oneself

Lose one's reserve, temper, or self-restraint; do or say something out of keeping with one's position or character. For example, A teacher should never forget herself and shout at the class. Shakespeare used it in Richard II (3:2): "I had forgot myself: am I not king?" [Late 1500s]

See also: forget

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.