# be oneself
## English
### Pronunciation

* Audio (General Australian):(file)

### Verb

be oneself (third-person singular simple present is oneself, present participle being oneself, simple past was oneself, past participle been oneself)
* (idiomatic) To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.
    All you have to do is be yourself.
** 2015 October 3, Paul Wilson, quoting Arouna Koné, “Fighting fit Arouna Koné making the most of his comeback for Everton”, in The Observer‎, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2015-11-17:I've heard players saying I am like a different person this season and it's true. When you are back with the team you can be yourself again, you can join in the fun and express yourself more normally.
** 2019 July 19, Kaitlin Reilly, “Who Is The Murderer On In The Dark? You'll Never Guess This Crazy Twist”, in Refinery29‎, archived from the original on 19 August 2023:Seeing Murphy's long pushed aside mushy feelings is a sweet moment. It almost feels inevitable that these two would find each other. Murphy has found someone she can be herself around and a built-in family with a surrogate daughter who understands what Murphy has gone through.
** 2020 November 14, Gayle MacDonald, quoting Oliver Lane, “Match: Time spent apart only strengthened Amy and Oliver’s decision to be together”, in The Globe and Mail‎, Toronto, ON: The Woodbridge Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 November 2020:She was also there when I cut my hair, which sounds trite, but for me it was a big deal. I've been on hormones three years now and I'm almost at the point of where I want to be. I feel like I'm finally myself.
* (idiomatic) To be as one usually is, as opposed to being sick, depressed, etc.
    What's wrong? You're not yourself today.
** 2011 November 6, Steven Millhauser, “Miracle Polish”, in The New Yorker‎, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-06-02:At that moment it seemed to me that everything was possible for Monica and me; and going up to her I said, "I've never seen you like this!" With her eyes still closed she said, "I'm not myself today!" She began to laugh. Then I began to laugh, because of what we had both said, and because of her laughter and the sun and the sky and the lake.
** 2023 February 9, David Brooks, “How Do You Serve a Friend in Despair?”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-07-27:One bright June afternoon, he pulled us aside and told us he wasn't himself. He was doing what he loved most — playing basketball, swimming in the lake — but he couldn't enjoy anything.
** 2023 April 4, Ellen Coughlan, quoting Whitney Pepper, “I tipped the scales at 299Ibs and lost over half my body weight - but now I'm addicted to SHOPPING and spend over $1000 a month on clothes”, in Daily Mail‎, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-04-27:I also think it is because I portray myself, I am more confident and outgoing - I am finally myself again.

#### Translations
### See also

* find oneself
* to thine own self be true