pull oneself by one's bootstraps

boot·strap

P p

Definitions of pull oneself by one's bootstraps words

noun pull oneself by one's bootstraps a loop of leather or cloth sewn at the top rear, or sometimes on each side, of a boot to facilitate pulling it on. 1
noun pull oneself by one's bootstraps a means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something: He used his business experience as a bootstrap to win voters. 1
adjective pull oneself by one's bootstraps relying entirely on one's efforts and resources: The business was a bootstrap operation for the first ten years. 1
adjective pull oneself by one's bootstraps self-generating or self-sustaining: a bootstrap process. 1
verb with object pull oneself by one's bootstraps Computers. boot1 (defs 24, 28). 1
verb with object pull oneself by one's bootstraps to help (oneself) without the aid of others: She spent years bootstrapping herself through college. 1

before 1890

One of the 20% newest English words

First recorded in 1890-95; boot1 + strap

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 75% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

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