pull (oneself) up by (one's) (own) bootstraps
(redirected from pull themselves up by their bootstraps)pull (oneself) up by (one's) (own) bootstraps
To improve one's life or circumstances through one's own efforts, rather than relying on others. After I declared bankruptcy, I had to pull myself up by my bootstraps and rebuild my financial standing. Whenever I hear someone say that poor people just need to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, I remind them that a lot of people don't have boots.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pull oneself up by one's (own) bootstraps
Fig. to improve or become a success by one's own efforts. If Sam had a little encouragement, he could pull himself up by his bootstraps. Given a chance, I'm sure I can pull myself up by my own bootstraps.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pull oneself up by the bootstraps
Succeed by one's own efforts, as in She was homeless for nearly two years, but she managed to pull herself up by the bootstraps. This expression alludes to pulling on high boots by means of the straps or loops attached to them at the top. [Early 1900s]
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 yourself up by your bootstraps
If someone pulls themselves up by their bootstraps, they improve their situation by their own efforts. Note: Bootstraps are straps attached to a boot which you use for pulling it on. It was his ability to pull himself up by his bootstraps which appealed to his boss. Note: Verbs such as haul, pick and lift are sometimes used instead of pull. Lift yourself up by the bootstraps, young fellow. Make yourself upwardly mobile.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
pull (or drag) yourself up by your own bootstraps
improve your position by your own efforts.A bootstrap is sometimes sewn into the back of boots to help with pulling them on. This idiom has given rise to the computing term bootstrapping , meaning the process of loading a program into a computer by means of a few initial instructions which enable the introduction of the rest of the program from an input device. We now refer to the process of starting a computer as booting or booting up .
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
drag/pull yourself up by your (own) ˈbootstraps
(informal) improve your situation yourself, without help from other people: Nobody helped her get where she is today — she pulled herself up by her own bootstraps.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
pull yourself up by your bootstraps
To succeed through hard work. Before zippers made getting into tall boots less of a chore, such footwear had leather attachments by which the wearer would pull them on (Western boots and some English riding dress boots still have them). Trying to raise yourself off the ground by pulling on your bootstraps sounds impossible . . . and it is (don't try it—you'll throw out your back). Therefore to pull yourself up by your bootstraps is to achieve your goals through as much hard work as levitating yourself would take.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price