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to repeat oneself

to repeat oneself

27 3.0
Say the same thing again, often in a way that annoys people
  • phrasal verb
  • /rɪˈpiːt wʌnˈsɛlf/
translation icon : repetirse
  • Why do you make me repeat myself over and over when you heard me the first time?
  • keep repeating myself
  • hate to repeat myself
  • repeat myself again

Examples

  • Don't make me repeat myself.

  • You know, I'm getting tired of repeating myself on this, OK?

  • Yeah he does like to repeat himself.

  • No need to repeat myself.

  • I hate to repeat myself.

  • Once you communicate, you may have to repeat yourself again, two days later.

    Blog text (3)
  • I told her I'd come back around five, and she said, "Sorry?" again, so I repeated myself.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I don't want to repeat myself.

  • So do me a favor and don't make me repeat myself.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I don't want to repeat myself during this presentation, so please pay attention.

Synonyms

to repeat
vsto repeat oneself
1.0

To do or say something again

is the same idea but implies the action is unnecessary or tiresome
to reiterate
vsto repeat oneself
100 5.9

To say something again to make it clear

is similar but implies the action is unnecessary or annoys others
to say again
vsto repeat oneself
89 1.6

Repeat what you just said so others can hear or understand

is used when saying the same words after recent speech rather than to annoy
to rehash
vsto repeat oneself
24 6.4

To present old ideas again with only small changes

is more general covering any action said or done again that may be tiresome
to restate
vsto repeat oneself
23 3.4

To say something again in a different, clearer way

is about saying or doing the same thing again rather than changing wording
to sound like a broken record
vsto repeat oneself
  • Informal
6 6.5

To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed

is similar but applies to any remark said again not only complaints
to iterate
vsto repeat oneself
2 6.3

To say something again so people understand

is used the same way but often without the tiresome or unnecessary tone
to reduplicate
vsto repeat oneself
1 7.8

To do something again in the same way to copy the original

is similar but need not copy the original exactly
to retread one's ideas
vsto repeat oneself
8.1

Repeat old ideas without adding anything new

is broader covering speech or actions said or done again not only idea reuse
to ingeminate
vsto repeat oneself
  • Archaic
9.9

To say something again to show it is important

is the same act but often happens without new purpose and is tiresome

Antonyms

239 2.5

Be different depending on the time or situation

39 5.5

Bring in new ideas or ways of doing things

How Repetitive

to harp on
  • Informal
23 6.7
to repeat oneself
27 3.0
to restate
23 3.4
to say again
89 1.6

Surface Forms

repeat oneself infinitive
repeated oneself past participle
repeating oneself present participle
repeats oneself third person singular

Morphology

repeat + oneself

The meaning 'to say or do the same thing again' is directly and transparently derived from 'repeat' (to perform or say again) combined with the reflexive 'oneself', which signals that the subject is repeating their own action or words. This is a standard compositional reflexive construction common in English (and many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The verb repeat oneself gives a clear picture of someone saying the same words again and again, where repeat means 'say again' and oneself shows it is their own words. So it now means 'to say or do the same thing again', often in a way that makes other people tired.