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express oneself

Idioms  
  1. Reveal or portray one's feelings or views through speech, writing, some form of art, or behavior. For example, I find it hard to express myself in Italian, or Helen expresses herself through her painting, or Teenagers often express themselves through their attire, haircuts, and the like. [Mid-1500s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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That’s the thing about being an artist: The need to express oneself is always real.”

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 3, 2026

The punks rejected majoritarian culture and the constraints it attempted to impose, advocating instead for an individualism that included the freedom to express oneself without compromise.

From Salon Jan. 30, 2024

Freedom of expression is “a cornerstone of Danish democracy, and the freedom to express oneself is a central value in Danish society,” Hummelgaard said.

From Washington Times Aug. 25, 2023

“Because in a way it’s sort of a failure to express oneself at the right moment.”

From New York Times Oct. 14, 2022

It is impossible to express oneself in any other way so clearly and pithily.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

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