by (one's) (own) bootstraps
(redirected from by someone's bootstraps)by (one's) (own) bootstraps
By one's own efforts to improve one's life or circumstances, rather than relying on others. After I declared bankruptcy, I had to haul myself up by my bootstraps and rebuild my financial standing.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
by one's bootstraps
see under pull oneself up.
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 (one's) (own) bootstraps
By one's own efforts.
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.