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Pull oneself together

Posted by ESC on May 04, 2005

In Reply to: Pull oneself together posted by Richard on May 04, 2005

: Please, what is the origin of the expression "pull oneself together" under the meaning of gaining recomposure?

This is a total guess. People used to believe that in times of emotional upheaval, stress, etc., a person's soul could separate from his body. You could be "beside yourself." That would result in the need to "pull yourself together."

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