VocabDictionary

please yourself

/pliːz jɔːˈsɛlf/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.idiom

Used to tell someone to do whatever they want, often conveying mild exasperation, indifference, or dismissal.

Example Sentences:
  • If you don't want to come to the dinner, please yourself, but you're missing out.
  • I offered to give you a lift, but if you'd rather walk in the rain, please yourself.
2.verb

To satisfy one's own desires or engage in actions solely for personal gratification.

Example Sentences:
  • You cannot spend your whole life merely trying to please yourself.
  • She spent the entire weekend relaxing in the garden, content to simply please herself.
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Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “please yourself”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Combines the verb 'please' (derived from Old French 'plaisir' and Latin 'placere', meaning 'to be pleasing') with the reflexive pronoun 'yourself'. As an idiomatic phrase, it gained popularity in modern spoken English as an imperative expression of dismissal or mild irritation, indicating that the speaker leaves a choice entirely to the listener.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of 'satisfy yourself': when someone says 'please yourself', they mean 'do whatever satisfies you, because I am not going to argue.'

Frequently Asked Questions About “please yourself

1. What is the meaning of “please yourself” in English?

In English, please yourself (idiom) is defined as: “Used to tell someone to do whatever they want, often conveying mild exasperation, indifference, or dismissal.”.

2. How do you use “please yourself” in a sentence?

If you don't want to come to the dinner, please yourself, but you're missing out.

3. What are English synonyms of “please yourself”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “please yourself”?

Combines the verb 'please' (derived from Old French 'plaisir' and Latin 'placere', meaning 'to be pleasing') with the reflexive pronoun 'yourself'. As an idiomatic phrase, it gained popularity in modern spoken English as an imperative expression of dismissal or mild irritation, indicating that the speaker leaves a choice entirely to the listener.