Pull oneself together Hi, everyone. I know that to pull himself toghether means that he calms down his mind back. But in the following sentence , "he pulled himself together so that he seemed even smaller", it is same meaning that I know? (The full text abstracted in Guns, Germs, and steel is that: As the young doctor watched, the husband turned red, pulled himself together so that he seemed even smaller, tried to disappear under his bed sheets, and stammered in a barely audible voice.) I could not find out any corelations 'between pulled himself together' and 'he seemed even smaller'. I appreciate your help in advance.