What Does “Pride yourself on sth” Mean?
“Pride yourself on sth” means to feel proud of a particular quality, skill, or achievement that you have.
Introduction
The phrase “pride yourself on sth” is a common English expression used to show that someone values or feels proud of something they possess or do well. It often refers to qualities like honesty, skill, or hard work. Understanding the pride yourself on sth meaning helps learners express confidence about their strengths or positive traits. Using this phrase correctly can improve your English communication, especially when talking about personal achievements or values.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: pride yourself on something
- Type: transitive (reflexive)
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to feel proud of a quality or achievement
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Pride yourself on sth” is a reflexive phrasal verb. It is inseparable, which means you cannot put the object between “pride” and “yourself.”
Pattern: pride yourself on + noun/gerund
- Correct: She prides herself on her punctuality.
- Incorrect: She prides on herself her punctuality.
How to Use Pride yourself on sth?
Use “pride yourself on sth” when you want to express pride in a specific skill, behavior, or characteristic. The phrase is often followed by a noun or a gerund (verb + -ing) that describes what you are proud of.
Examples of contexts include talking about personal qualities, work habits, or achievements.
Examples
People often use “pride yourself on sth” when describing their best qualities or achievements.
- I pride myself on being honest in all my business dealings.
- She prides herself on her ability to solve difficult problems quickly.
- They pride themselves on providing excellent customer service.
- He prides himself on his cooking skills.
- We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality.
Here is pride yourself on sth in a sentence: “John prides himself on his punctuality and never arrives late.”
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the order of words or forget the reflexive pronoun “yourself.”
- Incorrect: I pride on my work.
- Correct: I pride myself on my work.
- Incorrect: She prides her punctuality on herself.
- Correct: She prides herself on her punctuality.
Remember, the verb always needs the reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves) before “on.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Pride yourself on sth” is similar to saying “be proud of sth,” but the phrasal verb is more formal and often used to describe personal qualities or skills.
- Be proud of: A general phrase that can refer to anything you feel pride about.
- Pride yourself on: Usually refers to personal traits or achievements you actively value.
- Boast about: Less formal and can sound like bragging.
Example: She prides herself on her honesty (positive). She boasts about her honesty (may sound arrogant).
Common Collocations
People often pride themselves on specific qualities or achievements. Here are common collocations:
- honesty – being truthful
- punctuality – being on time
- skills – abilities or talents
- customer service – helping customers well
- hard work – putting in a lot of effort
- quality – high standards in work or products
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of pride yourself on sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “pride yourself on sth” naturally.
Anna: What do you like most about your job?
Mark: I pride myself on being very organized. It helps me finish tasks quickly.
Anna: That’s great! I pride myself on my communication skills.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Fill in the blanks:
- She ________ (pride) ________ on her ability to learn new languages fast.
- We ________ (pride) ________ on delivering the best products.
- He ________ (pride) ________ on being honest with his clients.
FAQ
- Q: What does “pride yourself on sth” mean?
A: It means to feel proud of a quality or achievement. - Q: Can I use “pride yourself” without “on”?
A: No, “on” is necessary to show what you are proud of. - Q: Is “pride yourself on” formal or informal?
A: It’s more formal and polite than “boast about.” - Q: What is the correct reflexive pronoun?
A: Use myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, or themselves depending on the subject. - Q: Can it be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, e.g., “She prided herself on her honesty.”
