address oneself to

address (oneself) to (someone or something)

1. To speak to a specific person or group at the exclusion of others. Right now, I'm only addressing myself to the graduating seniors. I'll talk to the other grades tomorrow. Some of the professors who doubted my research topic will be in attendance at my lecture, and I would really like to address myself directly to them! I suppose I better address myself to my employees before they hear of my resignation from another source.

2. To focus on a certain problem or situation. I needed to address myself to the burst pipe in my basement—that's why I didn't attend the dinner party. Sorry to interrupt, but there's smoke coming out of the oven. Seems like you might want to address yourself to that first. Do you think the mayor will ever address himself to repairing these shoddy roads?

See also: address, to

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

address oneself to someone

to speak directly to a particular person, rather than someone else. I did not address myself to you!

See also: address, to

address oneself to something

to turn one's complete attention to something, such as a problem or an issue. (See also address something to someone.) Please address yourself to these current, pressing problems.

See also: address, to

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