bring oneself to
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
to make yourself do something you really do not want to do
Literal meaning: to lead yourself to the point of doing something
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
to force or persuade yourself to do something difficult, embarrassing, or upsetting
"I couldn't bring myself to delete the last message from her."
"I couldn't bring myself to do it."
— Common interview and memoir phrasing; no single secure citation recalled
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Almost always used in negatives or questions: 'I couldn't bring myself to say it.'
Commonly used with
say tell ask look leave admit
Forms
Base
bring oneself to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
brings oneself to
he/she/it
Past simple
brought oneself to
yesterday
Past participle
brought oneself to
have + pp
-ing form
bringing oneself to
continuous
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Synonyms
make oneself force oneself manage to do be able to do
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