Core meaning: to undervalue or underestimate yourself（低估自己；贬低自己的价值）
Transcript
Becca: “I just don’t know if my idea is creative enough. It feels pretty plain.”
Feifei: “Aw Becca, don’t sell yourself short. You are creative, and I’m sure your idea isn’t plain.”
Becca: “When we sell ourselves short, we say negative things about ourselves. We undervalue or underestimate ourselves.”
Examples
- My sister keeps talking badly about herself. I told her to stop selling herself short.
- If you’ve got a job interview coming up soon, the most important thing is don’t sell yourself short.
The Opposite
Feifei: “What would be the opposite of ‘selling yourself short’?”
Becca: “We can’t make the opposite by using antonyms of ‘short’, like ’long’ or ’tall’. We could say that we value ourselves, or that we know or recognise our value or worth.”
Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | English Definition | Chinese Definition |
|---|---|---|
| undervalue | to not recognise the true value of someone/something | 低估；看轻 |
| underestimate | to think something is smaller/less than it really is | 低估；看轻 |
| know your worth | understand your own importance | 知道自己的价值 |
Critical Thinking Questions
- In cultures where modesty is valued, how do you distinguish humility from “selling yourself short”?
- How might you avoid selling yourself short in a salary negotiation without sounding arrogant?