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Etymology Journal ยท S

Snap out of it

Meaning

A blunt instruction to stop feeling sorry for yourself or to stop acting irrational. It is a command to regain focus and return to reality.

Firm, blunt

Used in a sentence

  • You are being ridiculous, so just snap out of it.
  • It is time to stop mourning the job and snap out of it.
  • She slapped her own face, trying to snap out of the daze.

The backstory

This phrase originated in early 20th-century drama as a way to characterize a sharp realization or a break in a psychological state. It has become a standard way to demand composure.

Heard in

Nationwide

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