bootstrap

to start up a computer. She booted her computer up and started writing. Please go boot up your computer so we can get started.

[of a computer] to begin operating; to start up one's computer. He turned on the computer and it booted up. Try to boot up again and see what happens.

Fig. to improve or become a success by one's own efforts. If Sam had a little encouragement, he could pull himself up by his bootstraps. Given a chance, I'm sure I can pull myself up by my own bootstraps.

to start a computer I have eight computers in my office and each one of them boots up differently.

to improve your situation by your own efforts without any help from other people My father pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become one of the richest men in the country.

Start a computer, as in When you've booted up, it's best not to turn off the computer until you're done for the day . The term, dating from the late 1970s, was a shortening of bootstrap, another computer idiom referring to using one set of instructions to load another set of instructions. Also see log in.

see under pull oneself up.

Succeed by one's own efforts, as in She was homeless for nearly two years, but she managed to pull herself up by the bootstraps. This expression alludes to pulling on high boots by means of the straps or loops attached to them at the top. [Early 1900s]

By one's own efforts.

To succeed through hard work. Before zippers made getting into tall boots less of a chore, such footwear had leather attachments by which the wearer would pull them on (Western boots and some English riding dress boots still have them). Trying to raise yourself off the ground by pulling on your bootstraps sounds impossible . . . and it is (don't try it—you'll throw out your back). Therefore to pull yourself up by your bootstraps is to achieve your goals through as much hard work as levitating yourself would take.