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Region: General | Usage example: Pull yourself together before presenting.

Pull yourself together

Meaning

Regain composure or confidence.

Usage

Used when someone must calm down quickly.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Metaphor for combing one’s attire into order.

Common British expression dating to the 1800s.

Related Idioms

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps

Rise through effort and self-reliance.

Get a hold of yourself

Calm down and compose yourself.

Pull out all the stops

Use every resource available to achieve something.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.