to have a word with yourself

8.4

To think carefully about what you have done and decide to act differently

idiom

: reflexionar sobre uno mismo

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to have a word with yourself and set your priorities straight.

Examples

You should have a word with yourself before making that decision.
If you keep acting this way, you might want to have a word with yourself before things get worse.
After missing another deadline, I really had to have a word with yourself about my time management.
It's time to have a word with yourself about your behavior.
After realizing I had upset my friend, I knew I needed to have a word with myself about how I communicate.
Before making any major decisions, it's important to have a word with yourself and consider the implications.
Whenever I feel frustrated, I find it helpful to have a word with myself and reflect on my choices.

Synonyms

to talk to oneself

vsto have a word with yourself

66 3.7

To speak out loud when alone to help you think

is internal reflection aimed at reconsidering or scolding oneself

to introspect

vsto have a word with yourself

1 7.7

To think carefully about your own thoughts and feelings

focuses on judging actions and possibly scolding oneself

to have a word with oneself

vsto have a word with yourself

1 8.6

To talk to yourself to think about and criticize your actions

is the same idea expressed with slightly different wording

to check oneself before one wrecks oneself

vsto have a word with yourself

Slang

9.9

To stop and think before you say or do something that causes trouble

emphasises prevention and consequences rather than simple reflection

How Reflective

to reconsider

227 3.7

to reflect

265 3.9

to have a word with yourself

8.4

to have a word with oneself

1 8.6

to pause

346 1.0

Surface Forms

have a word with yourself infinitive

had a word with yourself past

had a word with yourself past participle

having a word with yourself present participle

has a word with yourself third person singular

Morphology

have + a + word + with + yourself

This expression is built from the transparent pattern 'have a word with someone' (to speak briefly) with the reflexive 'yourself', so a learner who knows 'have', 'word' (a short conversation), 'with' and 'yourself' can readily infer it means to talk to or reflect on oneself. The pragmatic nuance (to admonish or reconsider oneself) is predictable from the reflexive form rather than being an arbitrary idiom.

Etymology

Have a word with yourself comes from the older phrase have a word, which meant a short, serious talk with someone. To have a word with yourself is to give yourself that short, honest talk in your head, so the phrase now means to 'think about' or 'scold yourself'.