lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps

Questions

What does lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps mean?

third-person singular simple present indicative of lift oneself up by one's bootstraps

How to pronounce lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “lifts oneself up by one's bootstraps” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.