pull yourself up by your bootstraps
- pull yourself up by your bootstraps
- Meaning
Improve your situation by your own efforts.
Origin
Of unknown but early, possibly as early as the 17th century, origin. Some early computers used a process called bootstrapping which alludes to this phrase. This involved loading a small amount of code which was then used to progressively load more complex code until the machine was ready for use. This has lead to the term 'booting', referring to starting up a computer.
Meaning and origin of phrases.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
pull yourself up by your bootstraps — phrase to become richer or more successful through your own hard work, without anyone else’s help Thesaurus: to make progress, or to achieve somethingsynonym Main entry: bootstraps … Useful english dictionary
pull yourself up by your bootstraps — I. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you make the effort to improve things for yourself. II. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you improve your problem or … The small dictionary of idiomes
pull (yourself) up by (your) bootstraps — haul/pull (yourself) up by (your) bootstraps to improve your situation by your own efforts without any help from other people. My father pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become one of the richest men in the country … New idioms dictionary
pull yourself up by your bootstraps — If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you make the effort to improve things for yourself. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
pull yourself up by your bootstraps — to become richer or more successful through your own hard work, without anyone else s help … English dictionary
haul (yourself) up by (your) bootstraps — haul/pull (yourself) up by (your) bootstraps to improve your situation by your own efforts without any help from other people. My father pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become one of the richest men in the country … New idioms dictionary
pull yourself up by your (own) bootstraps — pull/drag yourself up by your (own) ˈbootstraps idiom (informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people Main entry: ↑bootstrapidiom … Useful english dictionary
bootstraps — To get on by one s own efforts ● boot * * * bootstraps UK [ˈbuːtˌstræps] US [ˈbutˌstræps] noun Phrase: pull yourself up by your bootstraps … Useful english dictionary
drag yourself up by your (own) bootstraps — pull/drag yourself up by your (own) ˈbootstraps idiom (informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people Main entry: ↑bootstrapidiom … Useful english dictionary
bootstraps — boot|straps [ but,stræps ] noun pull yourself up by your bootstraps to become richer or more successful through your own hard work, without anyone else s help … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
