acquit themselves of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquit themselves of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has cleared themselves of a responsibility or obligation, often in a context of proving their competence or innocence. Example: "Despite the challenges, the team managed to acquit themselves of their duties and deliver the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In a speech to police cadets, reported by Iran's official news media, the ayatollah said Western countries "should acquit themselves of such a heavy crime not in words but in deed".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Erich Raeder and Karl Doenitz acquitted themselves of the crime of sinking boatloads of civilians because they could demonstrate that the Allies had done the same thing.

The New York Times

The actors acquit themselves honorably; the switch of Prospero to Prospera (a role taken by Helen Mirren) does the play no violence; and, as Gonzalo, Tom Conti speaks his part with a thrilling discursive directness akin to James Mason's in the role of Brutus in Joseph Mankiewicz's "Julius Caesar".

The New Yorker

The 10 other principal players are Brits, most of whom acquit themselves respectably, although the six-person chorus looks tired and sounds anemic.

Los Angeles Times

The Cameron Rifles had seen some action at Cross Keys, but this was their first experience of fierce fighting and they acquitted themselves well, despite the failure of the attack.

Wikipedia

The novel casts back even further than that to cement Jonathan's legacy of weakness, in a series of anecdotal chapters about different Casper forebears acquitting themselves poorly in various crucibles of bravery.

The New York Times - Books

That pack of four acquitted themselves decently on day five, taking more than 58 overs out of the day, with Adil Rashid's 172-ball 61 boosting that number.

The Guardian - Sport

For from of old these offices were conferred on persons by lot, and they who had acquitted themselves duly in the discharge of them were advanced to the court of Areopagus.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Also on the panel were the Green party's Sian Berry, Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, Ukip's Peter Whittle and Sophie Walker of the Women's Equality party, all of whom acquitted themselves well and will receive further coverage here in the coming weeks.

The Guardian

At the Governors Ball, Sid Ganis, the president of the academy, seemed thrilled that he and his crew had acquitted themselves against the tough circumstance of a recently settled writers' strike.

The New York Times

They acquitted themselves far better than either of the two Milan teams.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquit themselves of" when you want to emphasize that someone has successfully demonstrated their competence or innocence in a challenging situation.

Common error

Avoid using "acquit themselves of" when simply stating the completion of a task. This phrase implies a need to clear oneself or demonstrate ability under scrutiny, not just routine performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquit themselves of" functions as a reflexive idiom, where the subject both performs and receives the action. It describes how individuals handle obligations or accusations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquit themselves of" is a grammatically correct idiom used to describe how someone successfully fulfills a responsibility or clears themselves of an accusation, often under pressure. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, the phrase is relatively rare, predominantly found in news and media contexts and less frequent in casual conversation. Alternatives like "discharge their responsibility" or "exonerate themselves from" offer similar meanings, with subtle differences in emphasis. Use the phrase when aiming to convey competence and overcoming challenges, rather than simply completing routine tasks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exonerate themselves from

Specifically denotes clearing oneself from blame or accusation.

clear themselves of

A more general term for removing suspicion or accusation.

vindicate themselves of

Implies proving oneself right or justified after doubt.

absolve themselves from

Suggests being formally released from guilt or obligation.

discharge their responsibility

Focuses more on fulfilling a duty rather than clearing an accusation.

prove their innocence

Directly addresses establishing a lack of guilt.

fulfill their obligations

Emphasizes the completion of required duties or commitments.

justify their actions

Focuses on demonstrating the validity or rightness of their behavior.

carry out their duties

Highlights the execution of assigned tasks.

meet their commitments

Underscores the adherence to promises or agreements.

FAQs

What does "acquit themselves of" mean?

The phrase "acquit themselves of" means to demonstrate competence, skill, or innocence in a challenging situation. It often implies clearing oneself of a responsibility, obligation, or accusation.

When is it appropriate to use "acquit themselves of"?

Use "acquit themselves of" when someone faces a challenge or scrutiny and successfully demonstrates their ability or clears their name. It suggests more than just completing a task; it implies overcoming an obstacle or proving oneself.

What are some alternatives to "acquit themselves of"?

You can use alternatives like "discharge their responsibility", "exonerate themselves from", or "clear themselves of" depending on the context.

How can I use "acquit themselves of" in a sentence?

Example: "The team had to work under immense pressure, but they managed to "acquit themselves of" their duties and deliver the project on time."