themselves

UK /ðɛmˈsɛlvz/ US /ðɛmˈsɛlvz/

pron 2

Definitions

pron

The reflexive case of they, the third-person plural personal pronoun. The group of people, animals, or objects previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition (also used for emphasis).

They’ve hurt themselves.

They fought among themselves.

The reflexive case of they, the third-person singular personal pronoun. The single person previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition (also used for emphasis).

Would whoever stole my phone please make themselves known.

I don't want anyone to fight among themselves.

Collocations

ADJ.

better, educational, express, large, over, poisonous, public

The students expressed themselves confidently during the class presentation yesterday.

VERB + THEMSELVES

attend, behaved, can't, care, climbing, consider, cover, debate

The children behaved themselves well during the school assembly.

THEMSELVES + NOUN

individuals, sword-fight

The two fencers found themselves sword-fighting in the town square to settle their dispute.

PREP.

among, from, in, into, off, out, than, up

The children hid themselves among the trees in the park.

ADV.

explicitly

The managers did not explicitly state themselves on the controversial policy changes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves

If one takes care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.

Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ‥used to say‥Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.

God helps those who help themselves

Good fortune or providential aid comes to those who make an effort to accomplish things.

heaven helps those who help themselves

A maxim encouraging people to attempt to solve their own problems.

God helps them that help themselves

Alternative form of God helps those who help themselves.

take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves

Alternative form of take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.

Example Bank

They’ve hurt themselves.

Wiktionary

They fought among themselves.

Wiktionary

They are going to try climbing Mount Everest themselves.

Wiktionary

I don't like it when mathematicians who know much more than I do can't express themselves explicitly.

Tatoeba · #1415

If you take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.

Tatoeba · #2476

Teachers stimulate the students' interest, have them think, ask questions, and debate among themselves.

Tatoeba · #19059

Usage Notes

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