Definition

Verb phrase: * To take satisfaction or feel a sense of personal worth and achievement from something one is, has done, or is associated with. It implies a feeling of justified self-respect or pleasure in one's own or a closely connected person's qualities, accomplishments, or possessions.

Usage and Examples

• Basic Usage: The phrase is typically used with the preposition "on" to specify the source of pride.
  • She prides herself on her meticulous attention to detail.
  • The company prides itself on its commitment to sustainable practices.
• Reflexive Pronoun: The object pronoun () must agree with the subject.
  • I pride myself on being punctual.
  • They pride themselves on their community work.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used to describe taking pride in a skill, a character trait, a standard, or a result.
  • He prides himself on his ability to remain calm under pressure. (Skill/Trait)
  • This restaurant prides itself on using only locally sourced ingredients. (Standard)
• It often carries a connotation of something that is actively maintained or achieved, not merely a passive characteristic.

Variants and Related Words

• Pride (noun): A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from achievements, qualities, or possessions.
  • She felt great pride after finishing the marathon.
• Proud (adjective): Feeling pride.
  • He is proud of his daughter's accomplishments.
• Take pride in (verb phrase): A very close synonym, often interchangeable with "pride oneself on."
  • She takes great pride in her work.

Synonyms

• Take pride in: To derive a sense of satisfaction from.
• Congratulate oneself on: To feel pleased about one's own achievement (can sometimes imply smugness).
• Flatter oneself: To believe something favorable about oneself, often with a hint of self-deception.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Pride comes before a fall (or Pride goeth before a fall): This proverb warns that arrogance or overconfidence often leads to failure or disaster. It is related to the noun "pride" (meaning arrogance) rather than the positive sense in "pride oneself."
  • He was so sure he would win without studying, but pride comes before a fall.

Verb

1. feel proud of
   • She took great pride in her sons