What Does “beat oneself up” mean?
Definition:
If you beat yourself up, you constantly criticize or question yourself, usually about something that you cannot change.
Origin
The meaning of the idiom probably refers to the act of beating someone up, that is to physically attack someone, as with punches and other blows. Similarly, when someone feels badly guilty and accuses oneself over something they cannot change, they are mentally attacking themselves.
Quote
When Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up, it was so hard for Jennifer to bear the separation. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said:
“I still feel so lucky to have experienced it. I wouldn’t know what I know now if I hadn’t been married to Brad. I love Brad; I really love him. I will love him for the rest of my life… He’s a fantastic man. I don’t regret any of it, and I’m not going to beat myself up about it. We spent seven very intense years together; we taught each other a lot—about healing, and about fun. We helped each other through a lot, and I really value that. It was a beautiful, complicated relationship.”
Example(s)
Please, don’t beat yourself up over such a minor mistake.
I know you failed your driving test, but please don’t beat yourself up.
She beat herself up because she and her brother had had a fight just one day before he died.
