Pull oneself together: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone needs to quickly gain control over their emotions and actions, especially after a shock or emotional distress.

• After hearing the bad news, she needed a moment to pull herself together before speaking

Typically used in more formal or serious contexts, indicating that a person needs to regain emotional control, particularly before speaking or acting.

• He took a moment to compose himself before giving the eulogy

Used when someone has lost emotional control and needs to return to a steady state, often after experiencing a disturbing event.

• She struggled to regain her composure after the sudden news

Often used in everyday situations when someone is feeling anxious, angry, or nervous and needs to become more relaxed.

• Take a deep breath and calm down; everything is going to be fine

This phrase is often used when someone needs to regain control of their emotions or composure, especially after a shock or stressful situation. It's sometimes seen as slightly harsh, implying that the person is overreacting and needs to quickly get a grip.

• After hearing the bad news, she had to pull herself together before making any decisions.
• He couldn't afford to fall apart; he needed to pull himself together for his family's sake.

This is a general term for getting better after an illness, injury, or difficult period. It can be used in various contexts, both physical and emotional, and is neutral in tone.

• It took him a year to recover from his surgery.
• She needed some time to recover from the emotional trauma.

This is used to describe someone recovering quickly from a setback, whether emotional, financial, or physical. It suggests resilience and the ability to return to normalcy or even improve after a difficult situation.

• After losing his job, it took him a few months, but he managed to bounce back and found an even better position.
• She bounced back amazingly after her illness and is now stronger than ever.

This phrase is typically used in a physical sense, referring to the process of rebuilding energy, power, or health after being weakened by illness or exhaustion. However, it can also be used metaphorically to describe emotional or mental recovery.

• After months of physical therapy, he finally began to regain strength in his legs.
• She took a break from work to regain her strength after the stressful project.