to carry oneself with dignity
1
6.6
- idiom
:
mantenerse con dignidad
- Even in difficult times, she knows how to carry herself with dignity, earning the respect of her peers.
Examples
-
I saw how my father carried himself with that same dignity, the same pride that folks feel with the opportunity they have to provide for their family, and that same hope that one day his kids would have things he only dreamed of.
Blog text (7) -
They are taking in how you treat others, how you manage stress and frustrations, how you fulfill your obligations, and whether you carry yourself with dignity.
Blog text (22) -
Despite his tattered furs and hollow cheeks, he carries himself with dignity—he's a proud man.
Fiction book (1996) -
Despite her hardships, she always carries herself with dignity, inspiring those around her.
-
During the presentation, he carried himself with dignity, showing confidence and poise.
Synonyms
47
3.0
Have a particular way of moving or behaving
To behave calmly and with self-respect in difficult or formal situations
Antonyms
How Dignified
Surface Forms
Morphology
carry + oneself + with + dignity
The phrase is partly compositional: a learner can infer that 'carry oneself' refers to how one holds or conducts oneself and 'with dignity' clearly means 'in a dignified/respectable way.' However, 'carry' here is a metaphorical extension meaning 'conduct' or 'hold oneself,' which may not be fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it sits between transparent and opaque.
Etymology
Carry oneself with dignity gives a simple picture: imagine you carry oneself like a careful person carries a precious object, keeping your head high and your movements steady. That's why it means 'to behave with calm self-respect'.