{adv. phr.} 1. Without any others around; separate from others; alone. * /The house stood by itself on a hill./ * /Tom liked to go walking by himself./ * /Betty felt very sad and lonely by herself./ 2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. * /John built a flying model airplane by himself./ * /Lois cleaned the house all by herself./
BY ONESELF
Meaning of BY ONESELF in English
Dictionary of English idioms . Словарь английских идиом. 2012