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 oneself
1. with no one else present; alone (of two or more people). Must one sit by oneself or may one join another group? One just hates eating by oneself, doesn't one?
2. with the help of no one else. One is expected to do it by oneself. Can one do this by oneself?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
by oneself
Alone, unaccompanied; also, unassisted. For example, She enjoyed being by herself much of the time, or Brian can pick up his toys by himself. [c. a.d. 1000]
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.
by oneself
1. Without company; alone: went by herself.
2. Without help: wrote the book by myself.
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.