Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Look well in oneself
English answer:
looks content or untroubled enough given the circumstances
Added to glossary by
Yvonne Gallagher
Dec 30, 2021 10:15
2 yrs ago
41 viewers *
English term
Türkiye
Sworn Legal & Financial Translator
Native in: Turkish (Variant: Standard-İstanbul ) 
Works in: English to Turkish
Look well in oneself
Non-PRO
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
"There is a normal play of expressions across her face. She looks well in herself."
What does "well in herself" mean exactly? Is it another way of saying "one is comfortable in one's own skin" or does it simply mean "she looks well/healthy" etc.?
Thanks
What does "well in herself" mean exactly? Is it another way of saying "one is comfortable in one's own skin" or does it simply mean "she looks well/healthy" etc.?
Thanks
Responses
| 4 +7 | looks content and happy |
Yvonne Gallagher
|
| 4 +4 | She looks well |
Rocsana Guignaudeau
|
Change log
Dec 30, 2021 12:43: Rob Grayson changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Jan 3, 2022 02:30: Yvonne Gallagher Created KOG entry
Jan 3, 2022 02:31: Yvonne Gallagher changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1300525">Yvonne Gallagher's</a> old entry - "Look well in oneself "" to ""looks content or untroubled enough given the circumstances//not traumatised ""
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:
PRO (3): philgoddard, Yvonne Gallagher, P.L.F. Persio
Non-PRO (3): Tony M, Rachel Fell, Rob Grayson
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Responses
+7
3 hrs
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
659
Selected
looks content and happy
...with her life. Of course this means she also looks healthy
"...in herself" does nor refer to her dress per se, as Tony points out, but does refer to how her outward appearance seems to show she is happy and content in herself
= happy with her life at the moment
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Note added at 3 hrs (2021-12-30 13:48:39 GMT)
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typo: does NOT refer...
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Note added at 17 hrs (2021-12-31 04:09:44 GMT)
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I am really surprised at some of the views here. "in herself" should not be ignored. Though Americans don't seem to get it judging by the exchange of views in the link I've added below. However many British have heard doctors use this. I highlight some of these
NB the verb is "feel" rather than "look" here which changes the meaning a bit
https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-...
Anonymous14 November, 2007 08:36
As a BrE speaker - I just want to agree with the general Vs specific issue point already raised. [...]
From a doctor, I can imagine this as a general question AFTER the main concern has been raised. ie - "I know you have a broken leg, but how do you feel in yourself?"
The equivalent of "I know you have a broken leg, but how do you feel apart from that?"
I would expect it to cover both physical and psychological issues - and a suitable response might be ...
"Well I have been a bit down because I missed out on a promotion at work, and I had a a cold last week - which didn't help much either."heard doctors use the expression
Anonymous14 November, 2007 10:20
BrE here. I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear this from a doctor, and like others, I would interpret it as a general question about overall wellbeing, rather than specific symptoms.
Putting aside the linguistic aspect, I'm sure that the reason why doctors ask this is an awareness that many people will present with a specific symptom when the actual problem is much more deep-seated. For example, someone who goes to the doctor complaining of feeling lethargic might have had a lot of late nights, or they might be diabetic, or have cancer. All of those can be identified with appropriate specific questions or tests.
However, it's equally possible - in fact, possibly even more likely - that the underlying problem is clinical depression. Given the stigma that (still) exists in the UK around any form of mental illness, a direct question - "do you feel depressed?" - may well result in a negative or defensive answer. A more general, open-ended question allows space for the patient to reveal more if they want to, with a little less pressure.
Incidentally, in many cases this will hold even when the initial symptom is actually nothing to do with the underlying problem. For example, someone may go repeatedly to their doctor complaining of toothache. Eventually (and it may take some time), the doctor may discover that there's actually nothing wrong with their teeth - they just needed an excuse to see the doctor because they're feeling suicidal and that just too big a thing to reveal on a first visit. They need time to build up a level of trust.
Terry14 November, 2007 21:12
[...] The question is a clever ruse used by experienced British doctors designed to find out what is really wrong with a patient, as opposed to what they "presented" with, ie walked in complaining about. [...] and turns round to mention what is really bothering them.
Peter15 November, 2007 21:59
I am Br.Eng [...] I think the doctor may have made a diagnosis and by asking this fairly innocuous question he/she is probing to see if you reveal any confirmatory symptoms, but he/she does not want to put ideas into your mind or confuse you. In other cases I suggest he/she has decided that your condition does not, at this stage, require medical intervention unless it is causing additional problems.
Anonymous16 November, 2007 17:07
I am a British long-term (cancer) patient. I get this question from dootors, and sometimes nurses, quite often. It means something like "are you feeling systemically ill? at the moment" (leaving aside that you have a specific medical problem which we have just been discussing) or "are you managing to have a bit of a life or are you spending most of your time in bed?" (leaving aside that we both know you're in the middle of chemo).
Anonymous25 May, 2010 17:22
[...]
I'm a medical student in London and we are taught to use this question to gently probe for depression.
If the patient isn't depressed they may say something like 'apart from xyz I feel fine'.
If they ask 'what do you mean by that?' then it leads nicely to more specific questions about 'low mood'.
"...in herself" does nor refer to her dress per se, as Tony points out, but does refer to how her outward appearance seems to show she is happy and content in herself
= happy with her life at the moment
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2021-12-30 13:48:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
typo: does NOT refer...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2021-12-31 04:09:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I am really surprised at some of the views here. "in herself" should not be ignored. Though Americans don't seem to get it judging by the exchange of views in the link I've added below. However many British have heard doctors use this. I highlight some of these
NB the verb is "feel" rather than "look" here which changes the meaning a bit
https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-...
Anonymous14 November, 2007 08:36
As a BrE speaker - I just want to agree with the general Vs specific issue point already raised. [...]
From a doctor, I can imagine this as a general question AFTER the main concern has been raised. ie - "I know you have a broken leg, but how do you feel in yourself?"
The equivalent of "I know you have a broken leg, but how do you feel apart from that?"
I would expect it to cover both physical and psychological issues - and a suitable response might be ...
"Well I have been a bit down because I missed out on a promotion at work, and I had a a cold last week - which didn't help much either."heard doctors use the expression
Anonymous14 November, 2007 10:20
BrE here. I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear this from a doctor, and like others, I would interpret it as a general question about overall wellbeing, rather than specific symptoms.
Putting aside the linguistic aspect, I'm sure that the reason why doctors ask this is an awareness that many people will present with a specific symptom when the actual problem is much more deep-seated. For example, someone who goes to the doctor complaining of feeling lethargic might have had a lot of late nights, or they might be diabetic, or have cancer. All of those can be identified with appropriate specific questions or tests.
However, it's equally possible - in fact, possibly even more likely - that the underlying problem is clinical depression. Given the stigma that (still) exists in the UK around any form of mental illness, a direct question - "do you feel depressed?" - may well result in a negative or defensive answer. A more general, open-ended question allows space for the patient to reveal more if they want to, with a little less pressure.
Incidentally, in many cases this will hold even when the initial symptom is actually nothing to do with the underlying problem. For example, someone may go repeatedly to their doctor complaining of toothache. Eventually (and it may take some time), the doctor may discover that there's actually nothing wrong with their teeth - they just needed an excuse to see the doctor because they're feeling suicidal and that just too big a thing to reveal on a first visit. They need time to build up a level of trust.
Terry14 November, 2007 21:12
[...] The question is a clever ruse used by experienced British doctors designed to find out what is really wrong with a patient, as opposed to what they "presented" with, ie walked in complaining about. [...] and turns round to mention what is really bothering them.
Peter15 November, 2007 21:59
I am Br.Eng [...] I think the doctor may have made a diagnosis and by asking this fairly innocuous question he/she is probing to see if you reveal any confirmatory symptoms, but he/she does not want to put ideas into your mind or confuse you. In other cases I suggest he/she has decided that your condition does not, at this stage, require medical intervention unless it is causing additional problems.
Anonymous16 November, 2007 17:07
I am a British long-term (cancer) patient. I get this question from dootors, and sometimes nurses, quite often. It means something like "are you feeling systemically ill? at the moment" (leaving aside that you have a specific medical problem which we have just been discussing) or "are you managing to have a bit of a life or are you spending most of your time in bed?" (leaving aside that we both know you're in the middle of chemo).
Anonymous25 May, 2010 17:22
[...]
I'm a medical student in London and we are taught to use this question to gently probe for depression.
If the patient isn't depressed they may say something like 'apart from xyz I feel fine'.
If they ask 'what do you mean by that?' then it leads nicely to more specific questions about 'low mood'.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: Especially now we have that important extra context! I think the "in herself" is used here to emphasize that clearly she is fundamental 'unwell', in a physical sense.
9 mins
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Thanks Tony. I thought it was a common enough way of saying people are happy with their lot/in their own skin, but it seems I was wrong as very few examples of it when I went looking...
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| agree |
philgoddard
: I had to look this up. It's specifically about her mental health: http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/170544/how-is-he-in-h...
19 mins
|
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Thanks:-) Yes, surprised there are so few ghits for it, and why I have voted it pro
|
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| agree |
Anastasia Kalantzi
26 mins
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
writeaway
: This is not an unusual expression at all//Same general idea as feel well in oneself. Asker came out with good solutions too
41 mins
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Yes, I already agreed with Asker, who got the general meaning
// "not an unusual expression at all" when Nth Americans (and some Brits) don't seem to know it!
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
: Reasonanbly healthy and well are implied, but I think "content and happy" might be making an presumption (which is a state of mind that not all doctors concern themsleves with)
1 hr
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Thanks// I have added comments. Surprised you and others have never had a doctor ask you somethng like this or make a similar comment. I don't mean to imply deliriously happy but simply not too upset or traumatised by the accident/her situation
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| neutral |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: These are subjective terms that a doctor is unlikely to use, especially in a court case..
2 hrs
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I disagree. The doctor is giving an objective opinion, describing what he sees, a lack of psychological trauma even though there are physical injuries. How is that "subjective"? Ignoring "in herself" is incorrect. I've added opinions from UK natives above
|
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| agree |
Lara Barnett
18 hrs
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Many thanks:-)
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| agree |
Daryo
: Interesting to see how something apparently "simple" turns out to be not so simple.
2 days 10 hrs
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Thanks and yes, clearly not understood by many and why I have voted it "pro"
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+4
28 mins
Rocsana Guignaudeau
France
France
France
IT and Tourism specialist, Journalist
Native in: Romanian 
Works in: French to Romanian, Romanian to French, English to Romanian, and 6 more.
English term (edited):
Look well in oneself
She looks well
It's like saying that the normal expressions on her face make her looking well.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: She looks well in terms of her health; in other words, nothing to do with her dress, appearance etc.
24 mins
|
| neutral |
Yvonne Gallagher
: "the normal expressions on her face make her looking well" is NOT idiomatic English and you are ignoring "in herself"
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: I think that 'well in herself' is a doctor's way of saying 'physically and mentally well'.
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Alaíde Assunção
8 hrs
|
| agree |
AllegroTrans
: Yes, but not "...make her looking well"
13 hrs
|
| neutral |
Lara Barnett
: I don't see how this interpretation of the phrase works that well in the context given. "Expressions across her face" refers more to her current emotion & thought process, while "well" on its own normally refers to physical health, unless specified otherw
21 hrs
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Discussion
A doctor might say "I can see that you've broken your leg, but apart from that, do you feel well in yourself?" I don't really think it's got much to do with psychology.