A Self-Made Man Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

In IELTS Speaking and Writing, examiners often discuss success, your personal achievements, career journeys, or even describe a person you love/like/admire. The idiom ‘a self-made man’ fits seamlessly in such contexts. It reflects not only a rich vocabulary but also cultural awareness of what it means to achieve success without privilege, support, or inherited wealth, a core theme in many IELTS topics related to work, education, and personal development.

In this blog, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘a self-made man’, and provide examples for IELTS Speaking and Writing.

A Self-Made Man Idiom: Meaning

A self-made man is someone who has achieved success or wealth entirely through their own efforts, skills, and hard work, without relying on family connections, inherited wealth, or social privilege. 

This idiom embodies key concepts such as independence, hard work, overcoming adversity, and earning success. It is gendered in traditional usage (‘man’), but today, ‘self-made person’ or ‘self-made woman’ are commonly used variants.

Origin of A Self-Made Man Idiom

The phrase ‘self-made man’ is credited to Frederick Douglass, a former slave and African-American abolitionist, who used the term in an 1859 speech titled Self-Made Men. He referred to individuals who rose from humble beginnings through perseverance and ambition, not through privilege or inheritance.

However, the concept predates Douglass and has long been part of American ideology, especially during the 19th century Industrial Revolution when entrepreneurship and rags-to-riches stories symbolized the ‘American Dream’.

A Self-Made Man Idiom Usage

Listed below are a few examples of natural and context-rich sentences that demonstrate the use of the idiom 'a self-made man' in a wide range of everyday contexts:

• Jack is definitely a self-made man. He came from a poor background and worked his way up until he became quite rich.
• Benjamin Franklin was a self-made man, who rose from being a son of a candle-maker to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.
• Critchley was a self-made man who learned to account while working in a brush factory.
• My grandfather was a self-made man who started with nothing and ended up owning a chain of bookstores.
• She’s a self-made woman in tech, having built her startup from scratch.

A Self-Made Man Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

In the table below, you will find some of the best phrases to use in IELTS Speaking related to the idiom ‘a self-made man’.

A Self-Made Man Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

Now that we have sample answers that are tailored to common topics, we can explore the ways in which the idiom ‘self-made man’ can be applied effectively across IELTS contexts.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

• Cue Card Topic: Describe a person you admire. 

• Answer Excerpt: “I would like to talk about a self-made woman I greatly admire, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. She began her career in a male-dominated industry and eventually founded one of India’s biggest biotech firms. Her journey truly exemplifies resilience and visionary leadership.”

IELTS Writing Task 2

• Essay Topic: While formal education can play a vital role in professional success, many self-made individuals have proven that drive, creativity, and determination can also lead to remarkable achievements. Do you agree or disagree?
• Answer Excerpt: While formal education often lays the foundation for structured learning and opens doors to employment, it is not the sole route to success. Self-made individuals, such as entrepreneurs and artists, have repeatedly demonstrated that innate talent, strong work ethic, and a growth mindset can compensate for limited academic backgrounds. In fact, many of today’s most influential innovators, such as Steve Jobs or Richard Branson, either dropped out or pursued unconventional paths, yet achieved extraordinary success. 

A Self-Made Man Idiom: Practice Exercise

The following exercises will guide you on how to properly use the idiom 'a self-made man' and show you how to apply it appropriately.

1 Which of the following best describes a self-made man?

A Someone who inherited a large business from their family

B Someone who built their career and wealth through their own efforts

C Someone who married into a wealthy family

D Someone who won the lottery

2 Which scenario best illustrates the idea of a self-made man?

A Raj was gifted a company by his father and now runs it successfully.

B Arjun worked multiple jobs, started a small business with savings, and now owns a chain of stores.

C Meena was selected as the CEO of her family’s corporation.

D Sameer became rich after investing his inheritance into stocks.

3 Which of these characteristics is LEAST associated with a self-made man?

A Self-discipline

B Persistence

C Nepotism

D Innovation

4 In an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay on success, which sentence best uses the idiom ‘self-made man’ correctly?

A Many self-made men are born into wealthy families and receive top education.

B A self-made man relies on inherited connections to rise in their field.

C She is a self-made man because she married a millionaire.

D Despite having no financial support, he became a successful entrepreneur—a true self-made man.

5 What is the modern, inclusive version of the phrase ‘a self-made man’?

A A self-made person

B A privileged individual

C A self-made king

D An inherited leader

A Self-Made Man Idiom: Answer Keys for Practice Exercise

1 B

2 B

3 C

4 D

5 A

To conclude, the idiom ‘a self-made man’ stands for ambition, perseverance, and self-discipline, traits commonly featured in IELTS topics related to work, success, and role models. Therefore, using this idiom accurately in your speech or essays not only showcases strong vocabulary range but also helps convey clear, culturally relevant ideas. To excel in IELTS, idioms like these should be used thoughtfully, not forcefully, and only where they naturally enhance your point. So, use the idiom, a self-made man, and similar other useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+. 

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