outdid themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outdid themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that someone has exceeded their own previous achievements or expectations in a particular task or endeavor. Example: "The team really outdid themselves this year with the annual presentation, impressing everyone with their creativity and thoroughness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Those kids outdid themselves.

The New York Times

But on Thursday, they unintentionally outdid themselves.

The New York Times - Sports

Designers and photographers outdid themselves with lavishly produced books.

The New York Times

Braun and Dodd outdid themselves in this division.

The New York Times

North Carolina Republicans really outdid themselves in 2012.

The Washington Post

The Brewers outdid themselves in the fifth inning, though.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

"Every day they outdo themselves".

The New York Times

Restaurants and bars outdo themselves in excess.

The Guardian

They outdo themselves, turning out eye-popping food.

The New York Times

Here she and Scheffler outdo themselves with the smart, funny — dare I say, deep?

The New York Times - Books

Democrats have always been known for chaotic conventions, but this year they are outdoing themselves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outdid themselves" when you want to emphasize that someone not only met expectations but significantly exceeded them, showing remarkable effort or skill.

Common error

Avoid using "outdid them" instead of "outdid themselves" when referring back to the same subject. "The team outdid them" implies that the team outperformed someone else, not that they surpassed their own previous efforts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outdid themselves" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a person or group has performed better than they have before. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase follows standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outdid themselves" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone has surpassed their own previous achievements or expectations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in various contexts, especially in news and media, to highlight exceptional performance. While generally suitable for both formal and informal settings, more formal alternatives like "surpassed expectations" may be preferred in highly formal writing. The phrase effectively conveys admiration for remarkable effort or skill, emphasizing that someone has gone above and beyond what was expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Surpassed expectations

This alternative is a more formal and general way of saying someone exceeded what was expected of them.

Exceeded all expectations

This emphasizes that the performance was far beyond what was anticipated.

Went above and beyond

This implies extra effort and dedication in achieving a remarkable result.

Excelled themselves

This is a more formal and emphatic way to express outstanding performance.

Raised the bar

This suggests setting a new standard of performance that others will have to strive to reach.

Reached new heights

This conveys a sense of achieving a previously unattainable level of success.

Pulled out all the stops

This indicates that every possible effort was made to ensure success.

Made a stellar effort

This highlights the outstanding quality of the effort made.

Knocked it out of the park

This is an informal idiom suggesting a resounding success.

Slew it

This is a slang idiom which means they performed excellently.

FAQs

How can I use "outdid themselves" in a sentence?

Use "outdid themselves" to express that a person or group performed better than they ever have before, such as, "The students "surpassed expectations" and outdid themselves on the final exam".

What does it mean when someone "outdid themselves"?

It means they performed exceptionally well, exceeding their own previous achievements or expectations. Similar phrases include "went above and beyond" or "excelled themselves".

Is "outdid themselves" formal or informal?

"Outdid themselves" is generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "surpassed expectations" might be preferred in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "outdid themselves" and "did their best"?

"Did their best" simply means someone made a good effort. "Outdid themselves" implies they exceeded their usual performance, achieving something truly remarkable. It suggests they "reached new heights".