in spite of (oneself)

1. Despite one's own foibles, mistakes, or flaws. Somehow the Eagles managed to pull off a victory in spite of themselves. I knocked over my drink and called her the wrong name at one point, but all in all, I think the date went well in spite of myself. If he doesn't talk much, he might be able to have a successful interview in spite of himself!

2. Despite or against one's desire or intention. I was scared senseless when I realized there was a burglar in the house, but I laughed in spite of myself when he slipped on a banana peel on the kitchen floor. My little boy raises the cutest objections to time-outs that I end up smiling in spite of myself. I was riding the bus when I read that massive spoiler and gasped in spite of myself.

See also: of, spite

in spite of (something)

Regardless or in defiance of; despite. In spite of all the warnings, the hikers decided to climb the restricted route, and ended up having to be rescued. We have succeeded, in spite of all the setbacks. You want to sell the house now, in spite of all the renovations we've done to make it our dream home?

See also: of, spite

in spite of someone or something

without regard to someone or something; even though another course had been prescribed; ignoring a warning. In spite of her orders to stay, I left. In spite of the bad weather, I had fun on vacation.

See also: of, spite

in spite of

Regardless of, in defiance of, as in They kept on in spite of their fears. [c. 1400]

See also: of, spite

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.

in spite of

Not stopped by; regardless of: They kept going in spite of their fears.

See also: of, spite

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive

for Social Change, was the visibility of people of color marching in spite of the overwhelming police presence.

Bringing globalization home: lessons from Miami in projecting the voices of people of color and connecting global forces to local problems

My experience has informed me that, unfortunately, politics and the elected officials' expertise at keeping payroll expenses in check, in spite of need, is the driving factor in the mind of some of those elected lawyers charged with prosecution and defense and who hold public office, certainly not whether the interests of the citizens of this state are served by lawyers dedicated to the public charge they serve and who should be fairly compensated for the work they do.

Letters

In spite of his temperament Newton was revered in his time.

Celebrating Newton: the legacy and legend of Isaac Newton live on 300 years after the publication of his masterpiece, the Principia

He said in a press statement today 5, Feb: "After more than 40 days of the mass demonstrations and sit-ins we have not seen any significant change on the ground in spite of all the media statements.

MP: Government turns a deaf ear about the demands of the demonstrators

Summary: BEIRUT: Lebanon's workers union will press on with plans to stage nationwide strikes and sit-ins before the end of this month in spite of the government's collapse, chief of the General Labor Confederation (G.L.C.) Ghassan Ghosn told The Daily Star Thursday.

G.L.C. to go ahead with strike despite collapse of government

A July 2002 report by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that in spite of this eight-year effort, which cost the feds more than $2.5 billion annually, border enforcers in the southwest failed to reduce unauthorized immigration.

Politicking the border: the deaths of 17 migrants in an overheated semi trailer brought on a bout of political hand-wringing. But what will escalating atrocities at the border mean for long-term change to enforcement policies?

In spite of the heavy pressure to authorize a 9mm load for the high-capacity autos, none of the standard-pressure loads had either a Power Factor of 160 or 400 ft-lbs of energy.

PROTECTING AMERICAN BORDERS

In spite of its obvious failure, the report concludes, Washington pours more money into this program each year.

Immigration Service raids inhumane, rights group says

To date, Ashcroft appears devoted to NSEERS in spite of public criticism.

Special registration; prophecy and protest: Bangladeshis added to fated list. (Enemies of the State)

In spite of this, Sonepaseut struggles to maintain his self-worth: "I feel like I'm a good book with a bad cover, and they're just judging me by my cover."

Inside detention. (Report)