Express Your "Self"
Hello! From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories.
Have you ever talked to someone who only wants to talk
about themselves? It’s “me, me, me” or “I, I, I” from them all day long! This
kind of talk can be a real “turn off” to the people listening.
But at times, perhaps we are all guilty of being selfish or self-absorbed.
For those days, here are some self-centered expressions you
can use.
Today our program is all about you!
Let’s start with the word “self.”
“Self” can be added to many words to make new words. If you
are self-conscious, you are aware of yourself in a bad way. You
carefully plot your every move. People who are self-conscious can seem nervous
around others and perhaps not very self-confident.
However, self-awareness is a good thing.
Self-awareness means you recognize both your good points
and bad points.
A person who is self-aware understands that
what they say and do affects the people around them.
The difference between being self-aware and self-conscious
may seem minor. But there is a big difference.
Self-employed people are people who work for
themselves. They are their own bosses. But people who are self-serving only
think of their own needs. However, if you are self-employed, being
a self-serving business person is a good thing. No one is
there to help you. You must look after yourself.
Self-preservation is also good thing. You have
to depend on yourself to survive. However, self-pity is not a
good thing to have. Nobody likes to be around people who always feel sorry for
themselves.
You don’t have to be filled with self-pity to annoy other
people around you.
If you are unable to make a decision, people could say to
you, “suit yourself.” This expression is a response when you don’t
really care what someone does. It means "do as you please." In other
words, have it your way!
Let’s listen to an example:
“I don’t think I’m going to the party tonight.”
“But you just said you were going and that you would give
me ride!”
“Okay, I’ll go.”
“Look, suit yourself. Don’t go because of me.
But make up your mind!”
Some expressions using the word “self” can sound strange.
Take, for example, the saying to be beside yourself.
To many people, this might sound like you are having an out-of-body experience.
But to be beside yourself means to be affected by a
strong, usually negative emotion, like anger or sadness.
Here are a few examples:
“When her mother died, she was beside herself with grief.”
“He was so upset that he was beside himself.”
Another unusual-sounding expression is to be full
of yourself. This means that you think so highly of yourself that you are
full; there is no room for anyone else.
If you are full of yourself, you might think
that you are the greatest thing since sliced bread -- a common
expression in American English.
If you are full of yourself, you may need to get
over yourself. “To get over yourself” may sound like a difficult physical
exercise. But it only means that you need to think of others not just yourself.
If you are way too caught up in your own life or think you
are better than everyone else, others might say to you, “Get over yourself.”
Now, getting out of your own way is
different. This means that the thing or barrier keeping you from getting what
you want is you!
If you are the reason you are not achieving your goals, a
friend could say to you, “You have to get out of your own way!”
People who experience hard times can become a shadow
of their former self. This means they have less influence or strength than
they once did.
For example, imagine a man who has a loving wife, a
high-paying job and helps out in his community. Then his wife leaves him. She
blames herself for the separation. But this doesn’t help. The man turns to
alcohol to escape his marriage problems. Then he loses his job, his home, his
friends. When you see how low he has fallen, you could say he is a shadow
of his former self.
But enough about him .
Let’s get back to you. Practice using some of these “self”
expressions to express yourself.
I’m Anna Matteo.
Anna Matteo wrote this article for VOA Learning English.
George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is “Express Yourself ” sung by
Madonna.
Express Your "Self"
Hello! From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories.
Have you ever talked to someone who only wants to talk
about themselves? It’s “me, me, me” or “I, I, I” from them all day long! This
kind of talk can be a real “turn off” to the people listening.
But at times, perhaps we are all guilty of being selfish or self-absorbed.
For those days, here are some self-centered expressions you
can use.
Today our program is all about you!
Let’s start with the word “self.”
“Self” can be added to many words to make new words. If you
are self-conscious, you are aware of yourself in a bad way. You
carefully plot your every move. People who are self-conscious can seem nervous
around others and perhaps not very self-confident.
However, self-awareness is a good thing.
Self-awareness means you recognize both your good points
and bad points.
A person who is self-aware understands that
what they say and do affects the people around them.
The difference between being self-aware and self-conscious
may seem minor. But there is a big difference.
Self-employed people are people who work for
themselves. They are their own bosses. But people who are self-serving only
think of their own needs. However, if you are self-employed, being
a self-serving business person is a good thing. No one is
there to help you. You must look after yourself.
Self-preservation is also good thing. You have
to depend on yourself to survive. However, self-pity is not a
good thing to have. Nobody likes to be around people who always feel sorry for
themselves.
You don’t have to be filled with self-pity to annoy other
people around you.
If you are unable to make a decision, people could say to
you, “suit yourself.” This expression is a response when you don’t
really care what someone does. It means "do as you please." In other
words, have it your way!
Let’s listen to an example:
“I don’t think I’m going to the party tonight.”
“But you just said you were going and that you would give
me ride!”
“Okay, I’ll go.”
“Look, suit yourself. Don’t go because of me.
But make up your mind!”
Some expressions using the word “self” can sound strange.
Take, for example, the saying to be beside yourself.
To many people, this might sound like you are having an out-of-body experience.
But to be beside yourself means to be affected by a
strong, usually negative emotion, like anger or sadness.
Here are a few examples:
“When her mother died, she was beside herself with grief.”
“He was so upset that he was beside himself.”
Another unusual-sounding expression is to be full
of yourself. This means that you think so highly of yourself that you are
full; there is no room for anyone else.
If you are full of yourself, you might think
that you are the greatest thing since sliced bread -- a common
expression in American English.
If you are full of yourself, you may need to get
over yourself. “To get over yourself” may sound like a difficult physical
exercise. But it only means that you need to think of others not just yourself.
If you are way too caught up in your own life or think you
are better than everyone else, others might say to you, “Get over yourself.”
Now, getting out of your own way is
different. This means that the thing or barrier keeping you from getting what
you want is you!
If you are the reason you are not achieving your goals, a
friend could say to you, “You have to get out of your own way!”
People who experience hard times can become a shadow
of their former self. This means they have less influence or strength than
they once did.
For example, imagine a man who has a loving wife, a
high-paying job and helps out in his community. Then his wife leaves him. She
blames herself for the separation. But this doesn’t help. The man turns to
alcohol to escape his marriage problems. Then he loses his job, his home, his
friends. When you see how low he has fallen, you could say he is a shadow
of his former self.
But enough about him .
Let’s get back to you. Practice using some of these “self”
expressions to express yourself.
I’m Anna Matteo.
Anna Matteo wrote this article for VOA Learning English.
George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is “Express Yourself ” sung by
Madonna.
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