to lower oneself
4
6.5
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
humillarse
- You have to lower yourself to the pig's level, and you end up covered in mud.
- lower yourself to their level
- slowly lowering yourself
Debasement is defined by Merriam Webster as the act or process of lowering oneself in status, esteem, quality or character.
- Debasement is defined by Merriam Webster as the act or process of lowering oneself in status, esteem, quality or character.
Examples
-
Educate us, as a vet who has suffered a great loss, please do not lower yourself to name-calling and bad statements.
Blog text (6) -
Why do you have to lower yourself to that level?
Blog text (17) -
You going to lower yourself to share some trash?
-
Will you lower yourself to permit me to walk with you?
-
Don't lower yourself to their level.
-
Why did you lower yourself to impugn this young woman?
Blog text (22) -
Don't lower yourself for her.
Blog text (14) -
I'd say improve on yourself for a confidence boost, and don't lower yourself to begging her.
Blog text (7) -
It is not won by the girl who lowers herself to a man's level.
Academic text (1995) -
You shouldn't lower oneself to insult her just because you're upset.
Synonyms
414
6.1
Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others
89
4.7
Make a person or thing seem less important
62
4.5
To make someone lose respect or honor by doing something shameful
58
5.3
To make someone feel less proud or important
55
5.1
To treat someone so they feel ashamed or less respected
53
6.8
To make someone feel less respected or important
19
7.7
Do something you think is beneath you because you feel you have to
11
8.1
To lower yourself by doing something you think is wrong
9
7.4
Do something you think is beneath your dignity
7
9.5
To do something someone thinks is below them, usually unwillingly
3
8.1
To do something you think is below you but do it anyway
2
9.9
To give up your values for money or fame
1
8.6
To make someone feel ashamed or lose respect for themselves
Antonyms
How Humiliating
Surface Forms
Morphology
The construction literally means 'make oneself low'—combining 'lower' (to make less high/inferior) with the reflexive 'oneself' yields the idea of reducing one’s standing or dignity. This is a regular compositional pattern (akin to 'humble oneself' / reflexive verbs in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
Lower oneself comes from the image of physically making yourself lower — to lower your body or head, or to kneel, so you are below other people. That's why lower oneself means 'to do something that makes you lose respect or dignity'.