raps Idiom

keep under wraps

keep something hidden, not show or talk about Details of the program were kept under wraps until the election.

under wraps

secret, not advertised, on the QT I know the name of the winner, but I have to keep it under wraps until tonight.

pull oneself up by one's own bootstraps

Idiom(s): pull oneself up (by one's own bootstraps)

Theme: DETERMINATION

to achieve (something) through one's own efforts.
• They simply don’t have the resources to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.
• If I could have pulled myself up, Id have done it by now.

keep sth under wraps

Idiom(s): keep sth under wraps

Theme: SECRECY

to keep something concealed (until some future time).
• We kept the plan under wraps until after the election.
• The automobile company kept the new model under wraps until most of the old models had been sold.

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps

If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you make the effort to improve things for yourself.

pull oneself up by the bootstraps|bootstrap|bootst

adv. phr. To succeed without help; succeed by your own efforts. He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps.

under wraps|under|wraps

adv. or adj. phr. Not allowed to be seen until the right time; not allowed to act or speak freely; in secrecy; hidden.

Usually used with "keep". We have a new player, hut we are keeping him under wraps until the game. What the President is planning will be kept under wraps until tomorrow. The spy was kept under wraps and not allowed to talk to newspapermen.
Compare: UNDER COVER.

by one's bootstraps

by one's bootstraps
see under pull oneself up by the bootstraps.

pull oneself up by the bootstraps

pull oneself up by the bootstraps
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]