pull (oneself) together
(redirected from pull herself together)pull (oneself) together
To calm oneself down and begin to think or act appropriately. I know you're stressed out, but you need to pull yourself together and get this report done! I hope she pulls herself together soon. We need her to be focused.
pull together
1. To unify, consolidate, or join together the efforts or resources of a group or team. I know we're behind schedule, but if we pull together, we should be able to get this finished on time. The president is urging all citizens to pull together following the tragic event.
2. To move or organize things closer to one another. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pull" and "together." Please pull the desks together so we can use them as a table. If it's too bright in here, I can pull together those curtains.
3. To create or organize something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pull" and "together." I know it can be tough to pull together a nutritious meal at the end of a long day, but your body will thank you for it! I'm trying to pull a meeting together for this Friday.
4. To assemble or compile things from various places or sources. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pull" and "together." The police are pulling together all the facts to try to figure out what happened last night. We're pulling employee surveys together from our branches around the country.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pull oneself together
1. Fig. to compose oneself; to gather one's wits about one. I have to pull myself together and try it again. Now try to pull yourself together and get through this crisis.
2. Fig. to gather up one's things; to pull one's things together. I'll be ready to leave as soon as I pull myself together. I want to pull myself together and leave.
pull something together
1. Lit. to close something, such as a pair of drapes or sliding doors. Please pull the doors together when you finish in the closet. Would you pull the drapes together before you turn on the lights?
2. Fig. to assemble something, such as a meal. I will hardly have time to pull a snack together. I will pull a nice dinner together for the two of us.
3. Fig. to organize something; to arrange something. How about a party? I'll see if I can pull something together for Friday night.
4. Fig. to tidy things up; to straighten things up and make them orderly. This place is a mess. Please pull things together.
pull together (as a team)
to cooperate; to work well together. Let's all pull together and get this done. If we pull together as a team, we can get this job done on time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pull oneself together
Regain one's composure or self-control, as in After that frightening episode, it took her a while to pull herself together. [Second half of 1800s]
pull together
1. Make a joint effort, cooperate, as in If we pull together, I'm sure we'll meet our quota. [Late 1700s]
2. pull something together. Assemble or gather together, as in Once we pull together all the facts, we'll understand the situation. [Late 1800s] Also see pull oneself together.
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.
pull together
cooperate in a task or undertaking.pull yourself together
recover control of your emotions.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
pull yourself toˈgether
bring your feelings under control and start acting normally; stop feeling sorry for yourself: I know she’s upset but it’s time for her to pull herself together and stop crying. OPPOSITE: go (all) to piecesFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
pull together
v.
1. To draw some things closer to each other: We pulled our chairs together so that we could talk.
2. To bring together things gathered from several sources; compile something: The report pulls together findings from previous studies. The way you've written the ending is good—it pulls the whole story together. The tragedy has pulled the community closer together.
3. To make a joint effort toward a common goal; cooperate: The whole community pulled together to rebuild the school that had burned down.
4. To make oneself calm and tranquil. Used reflexively: Stop crying and pull yourself together!
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pull (oneself) together
To regain one's composure.
pull together
To make a joint effort.
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.
pull oneself together, to
To regain command of oneself. The image conveyed by this term is of someone who has “fallen apart” and must be put back together bit by bit. A related term is to pull oneself up by the bootstraps, meaning to improve one’s lot by making a singular effort. The analogy here is to pulling on long boots by means of the straps or loops attached to them at the top, which requires a considerable effort. This term dates from the turn of the twentieth century (although bootstraps by then were far from commonplace). The metaphor gained currency in the late 1950s and early 1960s through Operation Bootstrap, a U.S. policy designed to help Puerto Rico gain economic viability by providing “bootstraps” (in the form of American mainland industry establishing factories there) whereby the island could “pull itself up.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer