to shoot a line

Examples

• All

• You could tell he was shooting a line when he talked about his overseas adventures.

• He always shoots a line when he meets new people.

• Don't be fooled—she's just shooting a line to impress everyone.

• Jake likes to shoot a line about his days as a football star.

• Don't shoot a line about your achievements!

• When he shoots a line about his big promotions, it sounds like he's exaggerating.

• I wish he would stop shooting a line and just be himself instead of boasting.

Synonyms

B

to brag

vsto shoot a line

191 2.7

To talk in a proud way about yourself or what you have

is similar but often involves more exaggeration or playful dishonesty

B

to blow

vsto shoot a line

• Informal

151 7.7

To talk proudly about achievements to make others admire you

is also informal but may stress boastful exaggeration more than simple pride

B

to boast

vsto shoot a line

96 3.1

To talk proudly about your achievements to impress people

focuses on showing off through talk often by exaggerating achievements

T

to tout

vsto shoot a line

65 6.1

To praise or advertise something strongly to make people want it

is focused on personal boasting and exaggeration, not general promotion

T

to talk big

vsto shoot a line

• Informal

8 7.8

To say you are more important or successful than you really are

is used for showing off in speech in a more casual, easy way

S

to shoot one's mouth off

vsto shoot a line

• Informal

5 8.0

To say things carelessly or proudly without thinking about the result

is boastful too but usually without the careless or risky speaking

B

to bluster

vsto shoot a line

5 6.8

To speak loudly to try to impress or scare others while having little effect

is more about showing off by exaggeration, not threatening or loud display

V

to vaunt

vsto shoot a line

• Archaic

1 8.9

To talk proudly about your achievements to show off

is similar but often implies grand or showy praise rather than casual boasting

B

to brag excessively

vsto shoot a line

6.2

To talk too proudly about yourself or what you have done

is similar but often uses milder or less inflated claims

G

to gasconade

vsto shoot a line

• Archaic

9.9

To talk about yourself to show you are more important

is the same idea but often more ornate and extravagantly expressed

Antonyms

U

to understate

18 5.2

To make something seem smaller or less important than it really is

How Truthful

to tell the truth

814 2.7

to shoot a line

• Australian

9.6

to exaggerate

258 3.1

to lie

∞ 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology