carry oneself

Verb

carry oneself (third-person singular simple present carries oneself, present participle carrying oneself, simple past and past participle carried oneself)

1. (idiomatic) To move, especially emphasising the manner in which one moves.
   • 1877, Anthony Trollope, chapter 8, in The American Senator:

     She was thin, but always carried herself bolt upright, and would never even lean back in her chair.

   • 1915, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 22, in Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo:

     He was carrying himself with less than his usual stoop.

2. (idiomatic) To behave, especially with respect to how one's speech, body language, facial expressions, and grooming convey one's opinion concerning oneself.
   • 1726, Daniel Defoe, chapter 21, in The Complete English Tradesman:

     [Y]et all the while they are the tradesmen's wives, they endeavour to preserve the distinction of their fancied character; carry themselves as if they thought they were still above their station.

   • 1895, John Kendrick Bangs, chapter 11, in Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica:

     "Do I not carry myself well in the hour of defeat?"

     "You do, Your Majesty."

     "Am I pale, Le B-?"

     "No--no--oh, no, not at all, Sire."

     "Tell me the truth, Le B-. We must not let the enemy find us broken when they arrive. How do I look? Out with it."

   • 1921, Margaret Pedler, chapter 5, in The Splendid Folly:

     [S]he carried herself with a little touch of hauteur—an air of aloofness, as it were.

See also

• deportment