Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To force or persuade oneself to do something, especially something difficult, unpleasant, or against one's natural inclination. This phrase is almost always used in negative constructions or in contexts implying reluctance.

Usage

This phrase describes an internal struggle where a person must overcome their own feelings (like fear, shame, or disgust) to perform an action. It emphasizes the emotional or psychological effort required. - It is most commonly used in the negative form: "cannot/could not bring oneself to do something." - It can also be used in conditional or hypothetical statements (e.g., "How could you bring yourself to...?").

Examples

• Negative Construction: She could not bring herself to look at the accident scene. (The feeling of horror prevented her from looking.) He cannot bring himself to apologize, even though he knows he is wrong. (His pride stops him from apologizing.)

• Interrogative / Hypothetical: How did you bring yourself to eat that strange dish? (This asks how the person overcame their initial reluctance.) I don't know if I could bring myself to fire someone. (This expresses doubt about one's own ability to perform a difficult action.)

Advanced Usage

• "to bring oneself": This is the base form, typically found in questions or after modal verbs. (You must force yourself to accept the truth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Compel (verb): To force someone to do something. (Differs as it is usually an external force, not an internal one.)
• Muster (the courage/strength) (verb phrase): To gather up one's inner resources to do something.

Synonyms

• Force oneself
• Steel oneself (to prepare oneself to do something difficult)
• Persuade oneself

Related Phrases

• Cannot bear to do something: To be unable to tolerate doing something because it is too unpleasant. (This is about emotional tolerance, while "bring oneself" is about initiating an action.)

Notes

This phrase is idiomatic and focuses entirely on the internal psychological state of the subject. The action that follows ("to call," "to look," "to eat") is the specific act the person finds challenging to initiate.

Verb

1. cause to undertake a certain action, usually used in the negative
   • He could not bring himself to call his parents