raise oneself up by one's bootstraps

Questions

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

Alternative form of pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.

How to pronounce raise oneself up by one's bootstraps

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “raise 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 “raise oneself up by one's bootstraps”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “raise oneself up by one's bootstraps” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.