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Glite Dictionary
to give a good account of oneself

to give a good account of oneself

6.9
To do well in front of others in a difficult situation
  • idiom
: darse a conocer
  • Despite facing tough questions, the candidate gave a good account of himself during the interview.

Examples

  • He would give a good account of himself if necessary.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • You look like a boy who could give a good account of himself.

    Friendly Persuasion (1956)

  • Despite that bit of misfortune, the Leopards gave a good account of themselves.

    Blog text (19)

  • During the presentation, she gave a good account of herself by confidently sharing her ideas.

  • In the final match, the team gave a good account of themselves, showcasing their skills and teamwork.

Synonyms

to prove oneself
vsto give a good account of oneself
1 4.8

To show you are capable, skilled or brave by meeting a challenge

focuses on general success and favorable impression rather than only capability
to show oneself in the right light
vsto give a good account of oneself
7.2

Make yourself look good to other people

prioritizes actual success and positive outcome in hard situations
to bear oneself with dignity
vsto give a good account of oneself
  • Formal
7.6

To behave calmly and with self-respect in difficult or formal situations

is about achieving good results and a positive effect in challenging situations

Antonyms

to fail
∞ 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

to underperform
19 5.3

To do worse than expected or needed

How Well

to excel
81 3.7
to give a good account of oneself
6.9
to do well
∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

give a good account of oneself infinitive
gave a good account of oneself past
given a good account of oneself past participle
giving a good account of oneself present participle
gives a good account of oneself third person singular

Morphology

give + a + good + account + of + oneself

The components ('give' + 'a good account of' + 'oneself') transparently suggest presenting or reporting oneself positively, so there is a clear compositional link to a favourable presentation. However, the specific conventionalised sense 'to perform well' (rather than merely 'to describe oneself well') is an extended, partly idiomatic reading that a B1 learner who only knows the words may not reliably infer without exposure.

Etymology

The phrase give a good account of oneself comes from the idea of someone giving an account about oneself, a 'report' of what you did, to a leader, judge, or teacher. If the 'report' was good you were praised, so today the phrase means 'to perform well' or 'to make a good impression'.