make something of oneself

verb

To become successful on one's own initiative.

“He moved to the big smoke when he was 17 to make something of himself.”

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Meanings

verbmake something of oneself (third-person singular simple present makes something of oneself, present participle making something of oneself, simple past and past participle made something of oneself)

present singular third person makes something of oneself · participle present making something of oneself · participle past made something of oneself · past made something of oneself

  1. idiomaticTo become successful on one's own initiative.

    He moved to the big smoke when he was 17 to make something of himself.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 白手起家, 自力更生
  • 白手起家 (báishǒuqǐjiā)become successful on one's own initiative
  • 自力更生 (zìlìgēngshēng)become successful on one's own initiative
  • 奮發圖強 /奋发图强 (fènfātúqiáng)become successful on one's own initiative
Finnish tehdä itsestään jotain
  • tehdä itsestään jotainbecome successful on one's own initiative
Cite this entry
APA

make something of oneself. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20something%20of%20oneself

MLA

“make something of oneself.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20something%20of%20oneself. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make something of oneself,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20something%20of%20oneself.

Source: make something of oneself on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.