help oneself

To take food or other things yourself, often after someone has invited you to do so.

• Help yourself to a biscuit.
• The guests helped themselves to drinks.
• Can I help myself to a clean towel?

How to use it: help oneself to something (Please help yourself to some soup.)

Similar words: serve oneself

Common phrases: help oneself, help oneself to something

To control your actions or feelings; usually used when saying you cannot stop yourself.

• I ate another biscuit; I could not help myself.
• She could not help herself and started laughing.
• Can you help yourself when someone offers you chocolate?

How to use it: cannot help oneself (I knew I should stop laughing, but I could not help myself.)

Similar words: control oneself, restrain oneself

Common phrases: cannot help oneself, help oneself

To do something that makes your own situation better or solves your own problem.

• You can help yourself by asking for advice.
• She helped herself recover by taking regular walks.
• People need opportunities to help themselves.

How to use it: help oneself by doing something (You can help yourself by getting enough sleep.)

Common phrases: help oneself, help oneself recover