To be beside oneself 🚶‍♀️🫀

Meaning

To be extremely upset, distraught, or overcome with emotion.

Origin

This idiom paints a vivid picture of someone so overwhelmed by emotion, be it joy or despair, that they feel as though they’ve temporarily left their own body. Imagine standing apart, looking at yourself in a state of utter shock or elation. The phrase has roots in ancient rhetoric, where speakers would use extreme emotional displays, almost as if possessed by a spirit, to persuade their audience. It’s this sense of being out of one's normal state, utterly consumed by feeling, that gives the phrase its power.

😠⚔️ anger 😨😱 fear 😥😔 sadness 😮 surprise 🏃‍♀️⚕️ body

To be beside oneself represented with emoji🚶‍♀️🫀

This playful sequence invites us to consider the profound human experience of being utterly overwhelmed. The solitary figure, walking with perhaps weary steps, is met by a vibrant, pulsating heart. It's a visual shorthand for that moment when emotion surges, making one feel disconnected from their own calm center. We are prompted to reflect on the internal landscape of strong feelings, where the self and the heart's tempestuous rhythm seem to exist in parallel, yet distinct, universes.

Examples

  • When she heard her car had been stolen, she was beside herself with worry.
  • He was beside himself with joy when he found out he’d won the lottery.
  • The squirrel was beside himself when he realized his favorite acorn was missing.
  • The little fairy was beside herself when her wings got tangled in a spiderweb.

Frequently asked questions

What's the opposite of to be beside oneself?

The opposite of to be beside oneself, which implies extreme emotional disturbance, is to be calm and composed. This means maintaining emotional control and a steady demeanor, even under pressure.

Can you be beside oneself with happiness?

Yes, you can be beside oneself with happiness, although it is more commonly associated with negative emotions. The idiom describes an intense emotional state, so extreme joy can certainly cause someone to feel out of control and overwhelmed.

Is to be beside oneself a literal description?

No, to be beside oneself is not a literal description of leaving one's body. It's a metaphorical idiom used to express a state of being so overwhelmed by emotion that one feels a loss of self-control.

When did the phrase to be beside oneself first appear in writing?

The exact first appearance is difficult to pinpoint, but the concept of being beside oneself due to extreme emotion has been noted in classical literature and rhetoric for centuries. The modern idiomatic usage solidified over time, becoming a common expression in English.

Similar to "to be beside oneself"

To be beside oneself
Both phrases describe an overwhelming emotional state, but 'to be beside oneself' implies a loss of control, as if one has stepped outside their own being, whereas 'to be beside oneself' points more to an internal fracturing of composure
To be beside oneself
Both phrases capture a person consumed by emotion, but 'to be beside oneself' suggests a more active, almost frantic display of distress, while 'to be beside oneself' hints at a submerged, almost paralyzing despair
To be beside oneself
Both phrases evoke a state of extreme agitation, but 'to be beside oneself' has a folksy, almost quaint ring to it, suggesting a less performative, more deeply personal unraveling than the dramatic flair sometimes implied by 'to be beside oneself'

Opposite of "to be beside oneself"

To be beside oneself
This phrase argues for an enviable equanimity, a steady hand on the tiller of one's own emotions, which directly opposes the wild abandon of 'to be beside oneself' and suggests that true strength lies in measured self-possession, not emotional surrender
To be beside oneself
Arguing for a quiet, internal resilience, this phrase offers an alternative to the outward turmoil of 'to be beside oneself,' positing that profound suffering can exist without a dramatic break from one's own self, a testament to inner fortitude

Related to "to be beside oneself"

To be beside oneself
Like 'to be beside oneself,' this phrase vividly captures a moment of intense, uncontrolled emotion, but it focuses on the sudden, explosive eruption of that feeling, unlike the more generalized state of being overwhelmed
To be beside oneself
This phrase shares the idea of being completely consumed by an emotion, just as in 'to be beside oneself,' but it specifically points to the all-encompassing nature of happiness, proving that overwhelming emotion isn't always negative
To be beside oneself
This idiom lives in the same emotional landscape as 'to be beside oneself,' describing a state of profound distress, yet it specifically conjures the image of a body wracked with physical pain or shock, a visceral manifestation of inner turmoil
To be beside oneself
Sharing the core idea of emotional instability with 'to be beside oneself,' this phrase adds a layer of social performance, suggesting that the distress might be displayed for others rather than solely a private, uncontrollable state