Pull yourself together
/pʊl jərˈsɛlf təˈɡɛð.ər/informal, neutralUK · US · AU · IE · CA
What does “Pull yourself together” mean?
Pull yourself together means to regain control of your emotions and behave calmly after feeling upset, angry, or panicked.
This expression means to stop being overwhelmed by your feelings and start acting reasonably again. When people feel deep sadness or panic, they may feel broken or scattered into pieces. To pull yourself together is to gather your strength and focus on what you must do.
Use this phrase carefully because it can sound firm or even uncaring. It suggests that a person should stop showing their distress, which can hurt someone's feelings if they are in genuine pain. Friends often use it when someone needs to recover quickly to handle an urgent task.
When do people say it?
People say this to someone who is crying, panicking, or acting wildly in a difficult moment.
“Take a deep breath and pull yourself together before the interview begins.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal, neutral. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US and AU and IE and CA.
Where does it come from?
The phrase appeared in the late nineteenth century in British English. It comes from the idea of collecting scattered pieces of oneself into a calm whole.
Origin confidence: Well documented
How do you say “Pull yourself together” in other languages?
Last reviewed 2026-09-11