I'm not sure what she meant by "disguise is self-portrait"

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Disguise is a self-portrait" means that one's disguise often ironically involves being themselves in some form instead of being a completely different person. Perhaps because they get to act more naturally, or because they get to portray parts of themselves they don't usually portray. Ex: I feel more myself when I'm acting on stage. The character feels like a self-portrait. Ex: I sometimes pretend I'm the characters in my book so that I can write easily.

How do native speakers use this expression?

Share this post

Popular Q&As

12/08

1
What does the word "extra" mean in this context? Could you give me some examples?
In this video, the word "extra" is used as an adverb, and it means to a greater extent than usual. "An extra good hair day" means that it will be a "good" hair day that is especially (or extra) good. Ex: My son is very well behaved today. He is trying to be extra good. Ex: The birthday present I bought for my sister is extra special. She has wished for it for a long time.

2
Is it okay to say "that's cheating!" instead of "no fair!" in this context?
Well, it's possible if it's against the rules! However, it seems like this is more of a "loophole" than "cheating." A "loophole" is a permittable or legal way to avoid or escape something or find another way to do it. And it's not fair since the other plans can't do this. If it was clearly against the rules, then yes, he could have said, "that's cheating!" Ex: I caught him trying to cheat during the card game. Ex: I found a loophole in the contract.

3
What does "bank holiday" mean? I don't think it has anything to do with a bank!
It does have a bit to do with a "bank"! A "bank holiday" is a public holiday when the banks are closed in the UK. But it means the same thing as a "public holiday." Ex: I'm looking forward to the next bank holiday so that I can visit my parents. Ex: We have a bank holiday coming up. Make sure you draw money beforehand.

4
What's "breakthrough" mean and when's it used?
A "breakthrough" means a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or advance in knowledge and technique. It's used in relation to significant moments, as well as when a big success happens in one's life. Ex: The new vaccine was a medical breakthrough that doctors and scientists had worked on for years. Ex: Going to counseling is often a huge breakthrough for many people. Ex: Their album was a breakthrough and they soared to the top charts.

5
Can I replace "collect" with "pick up" in this context? What is the difference between those two?
Yes, you can. I am unsure about British English, but in American English we use "pick up" more frequently than "collect." There isn't a difference between the two phrases; they both mean the same thing in this context. "Collect" seems to be more formal than "pick up." Ex: I need to pick up my sister from the airport. Ex: She came to collect him from the train station. Ex: He plans to pick her up from the port. Ex: The carriage came to collect her.

Complete the expression with a quiz!