Meanings
to improve one's situation through one's own efforts without help from others.
After losing his job, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and started a successful business.
Synonyms
Antonyms
(originally sarcastic) To attempt an impossible or extremely difficult action — used historically to indicate absurdity.
The idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps was once used to mock impossible self-lift.
Last updated: 2026/01/08 16:21