knock oneself out
To work very hard; make a great effort.
Mrs. Ross knocked herself out planning her daughter's wedding.
Tom knocked himself out to give his guests a good time.
She really knocked herself out trying to pass that difficult class.
Don’t knock yourself out during practice. Save your strength for the competition later.
law unto oneself
A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't like it.
Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself.
Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be a law unto himself.
lay oneself open to
To make oneself vulnerable to; expose oneself.
If you don't perform your job properly, you will lay yourself open to criticism.
lay oneself out
To make an extra hard effort; try very hard.
Larry wanted to win a medal for his school, so he really laid himself out in the race.
lend oneself to
To give help or approval to; encourage; assist.
Alice wouldn't lend herself to the plot to hide the teacher's chalk.
let oneself go
To be free in one's actions or talk; relax.
Judge Brown let go at the reunion of his old class and had a good time.
The cowboys worked hard all week, but on Saturday night they went to town and let themselves go.
look oneself
To appear self-possessed and well; look or seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to appear all right or normal. Often used in the negative.
Mary had had a long illness, but now she looked quite herself again.
It had been a big night, and Uncle John had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself after a night's sleep.
What's wrong with Larry? He doesn't look himself.
lose oneself
To go wrong; miss your way; become unable to find the right direction.
Fred lost himself in the confusion of downtown Boston streets.
To conceal yourself; hide.
The pick-pocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police.
To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed.
Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a time.