subject yourself to

USAGE SUMMARY

"subject yourself to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally means to intentionally place yourself in a situation or environment that is difficult or unpleasant, to face criticism or punishment, or to comply with an imposed set of rules or standards. For example, "If you want to improve your physical fitness, you need to subject yourself to a regular exercise regimen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But don't be like me, there's no need to subject yourself to three years of that.

The Guardian

"What I will say is that, if you make a mistake, you subject yourself to liability.

The Guardian

That doesn't mean you have to subject yourself to a miserable work life.

The New York Times - Style

Why subject yourself to disillusion and find that your dearest memories are cobwebs of illusion?

The New York Times

The ability to subject yourself to the kind of criticism I'm getting now, for something I think is right?

The New Yorker

One of the costs of playing poorly is you open and you subject yourself to rumors, speculation and innuendo.

The New York Times - Sports

To go out on New Year's Eve is to subject yourself to a dreadful barrage of competing horrors.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you couldn't do that, you had to subject yourself to the hypervisibility of transgender women with it's unending scrutiny.

The Guardian - Opinion

That's right, take off all those layers that you just put on and subject yourself to frighteningly high temperatures.

The Guardian - Opinion

When you do that and you don't have the right hand or win, then you subject yourself to a lot more criticism".

The New York Times - Sports

He finally said, "Well, you have to decide whether you could do what our country needs — and whether you'd be willing to subject yourself to the process".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "subject yourself to", ensure that the context clearly indicates the deliberate nature of the action and the potential for negative consequences or challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "subject yourself to" when the situation is not a deliberate choice. The phrase implies a conscious decision to face something difficult or unpleasant, not a passive acceptance of circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "subject yourself to" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the subject performs an action that affects themselves. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where individuals deliberately expose themselves to scrutiny, hardship, or specific processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

18%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

HuffPost

10%

Forbes

3%

The Guardian

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "subject yourself to" is a commonly used reflexive verb phrase indicating a deliberate act of exposing oneself to something, often with an understanding of potential challenges or negative consequences. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, its formality can fluctuate based on the specific usage. Ludwig examples reveal its prevalence in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Wiki categories. Related phrases, such as "expose yourself to" or "submit oneself to", offer nuanced alternatives depending on the desired emphasis. Remember to use "subject yourself to" when highlighting a conscious decision to face something difficult or unpleasant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subject oneself to

More formal phrasing, emphasizing the act of imposing something on oneself.

expose yourself to

Focuses more on the act of revealing or opening oneself to something, often without the implication of hardship.

open yourself up to

Emphasizes vulnerability and willingness to experience something, whether positive or negative.

submit yourself to

Highlights compliance or obedience to a process, authority, or force.

put yourself through

Implies enduring a challenging or difficult experience deliberately.

lay yourself open to

Stresses the potential for vulnerability or risk involved in the action.

make yourself vulnerable to

Specifically highlights the act of becoming susceptible to harm or influence.

leave yourself open to

Emphasizes the potential consequences of inaction or passivity.

present yourself to

Focuses on the act of appearing or introducing oneself to something, often in a formal context.

render yourself liable to

Highlights the act of becoming legally or morally responsible for something.

FAQs

How is "subject yourself to" used in a sentence?

The phrase "subject yourself to" is used to describe intentionally exposing oneself to something, often unpleasant. For instance, "To improve, you must "subject yourself to" rigorous training".

What's a more formal way to say "subject yourself to"?

A more formal alternative is to "submit oneself to", which implies compliance with a process or authority. For example, "The candidate chose to "submit oneself to" a polygraph examination".

When is it inappropriate to use "subject yourself to"?

It's inappropriate when the exposure isn't a deliberate choice but an unavoidable situation. Use other phrases when describing involuntary experiences.

What words are similar to "subject yourself to"?

Similar phrases include "expose yourself to", "open yourself up to", and "put yourself through", each with slightly different connotations depending on the context.