he forgot himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'he forgot himself' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations where someone has forgotten something about themselves, such as their manners or their obligations. For example, "At the party, John got so caught up in conversation that he forgot himself and shouted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Then, one afternoon, he forgot himself.

The New Yorker

"But in the last three years, he became inebriated with his own power, he forgot himself".

The New York Times

It was only when he forgot himself that he found the freedom to let the sounds come through unobstructed.

Huffington Post

He moved between chambers with more ease than normal, giving Nancy a hand when John got too swept up in hammering away at her, filling John's mouth with bipartisan words to spit out when he forgot himself, making sure Harry and Mitch swapped when their negotiations began to bottom out and always making sure that no one ignored his need for attention, love or political satisfaction.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Occasionally, fabulous, fleeting moments arrive when he forgets himself.

The Guardian - Film

Vindice, instead, dissolves in the vertigo of his own disguises ("Joy's a subtle elf: I think man's happiest when he forgets himself").

The Guardian - Books

He forgets himself when he tots up the numbers; this is structurally, as well as thematically, a film about supporting others as you yourself are written out of the picture.

The Guardian - Film

These days he frowns, smiles, laughs and even scowls, but he does not normally smirk -- although occasionally he forgets himself when he is in a good mood and it creeps back, only to be replaced by a frown as soon as he notices it.

The New York Times

He retires and a romance blossoms with a woman that he had once called; but the romance is blasted when she sends him a present, and while calling to thank him, he forgets himself and says, "but there is still an item left over from October".

The New Yorker

In his rage against habeas hearings — where judges, as he sees it, "get to make it up as they go along," he forgets himself, and actually makes a sound argument for bringing prisoners from Guantánamo and into courts: Under our law, the jury determines the facts of a case and the credibility of witnesses.

The New Yorker

Every great salesman knows that the more he forgets himself, his product line and his commissions in order to fanatically focus on serving his customer, the more sales he makes.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he forgot himself" to describe situations where someone temporarily loses their self-awareness or behaves in a way that is out of character, often due to strong emotions or external influences. Be mindful of the context to ensure the phrase accurately conveys the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "he forgot himself" when the intended meaning is simply that he forgot a specific task or piece of information. This phrase implies a lapse in self-awareness or control, not just forgetfulness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he forgot himself" functions as an idiomatic expression, signifying a temporary lapse in one's usual behavior, self-awareness, or control. It describes situations where someone acts out of character due to strong emotions or external circumstances. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he forgot himself" is a grammatically correct and usable idiom indicating a temporary lapse in self-awareness or control, primarily found in News & Media contexts. According to Ludwig, it's appropriate to use when someone acts out of character. While relatively rare, the phrase effectively conveys a deviation from expected behavior, as demonstrated in the provided examples. Remember to use it when describing a momentary loss of composure, and not just simple forgetfulness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he lost his self-control

This emphasizes a lapse in the ability to regulate one's actions and impulses.

he lost his composure

This alternative emphasizes the loss of control over one's emotions or behavior in a specific situation.

he acted out of character

This suggests that the person behaved in a way that is not typical of their usual personality or habits.

he became carried away

This indicates that the person was so caught up in the moment that they acted without thinking.

he behaved inappropriately

This focuses on the violation of social norms or expected standards of conduct.

he crossed the line

This implies that the person went beyond acceptable boundaries in their behavior or words.

he let himself go

Suggests a temporary abandonment of one's usual standards of behavior or appearance.

he abandoned his restraint

This alternative highlights the surrender of one's self-imposed limitations or inhibitions.

he gave way to impulse

This focuses on the person's susceptibility to acting on immediate desires without considering the consequences.

he slipped up

Implies a momentary lapse in judgment or a mistake in behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "he forgot himself" in a sentence?

Use "he forgot himself" to indicate that someone behaved in a way that was out of character or lost their composure. For example, "During the heated argument, he forgot himself and raised his voice."

What are some alternatives to "he forgot himself"?

Some alternatives include "he lost his composure", "he acted out of character", or "he behaved inappropriately". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "he forgot about himself" instead of "he forgot himself"?

While "he forgot about himself" is grammatically correct, it has a slightly different meaning. It suggests that he neglected his own needs or well-being, rather than losing self-control or acting out of character, which is what "he forgot himself" implies.

What's the difference between "he forgot himself" and "he lost himself"?

"He forgot himself" suggests a temporary lapse in judgment or behavior, while "he lost himself" implies a more profound and prolonged state of disorientation or being overwhelmed by something, such as grief or a new experience.