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Does the phrase "bear yourself open" mean to be more open?

In today's world, people are so closed off to each other, maybe if we bore ourselves open, we'd be happier as a collective.

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    Note: there's a homonym, "to bare," meaning to make open as in "I bared my feelings to you." This is not the word in the example sentence "... if we bore ourselves more open," since "bore" is the past tense of "bear," and "bared" is the past tense of "bare." But I wonder whether the author was led to a slightly odd construction by the association. Aug 25, 2021 at 20:22
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    Where does that example come from, please? If it's quote, who said it and in what context? If it's constructed, what led you to it? Aug 25, 2021 at 21:42
  • voted to close. No source
    – James K
    Jan 14 at 19:01

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One of the definitions of to bear means to be brave in how you conduct yourself or your actions. It isn't commonly used, but I'd read your sentence as:

Maybe if we were brave enough to be open [with each other], we'd be happier...

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The phrase, 'bear oneself' has the following meaning:

: to move, stand, or behave in a specified way

(The meaning is from Merriam-Webster.)

For example,

He always bore himself like a gentleman.

means 'he always behaves like a gentleman.'

So the question phrase 'bear ourselves open' can be interpreted as 'behave/stand ourselves open'.

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  • Yes, the question phrase can be interpreted as 'behave/stand ourselves open' and if it is, how does that translate into English? What does "behave/stand ourselves open" mean? Aug 25, 2021 at 21:40

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