too big for one's boots
- idiom
- UK
:
creerse demasiado
- In this precarious profession it doesn't do to get too big for one's boots.
Examples
-
You're getting way too big for your boots!
-
My man's getting too big for his boots.
-
He's acting too big for his boots by demanding a corner office on his first day.
-
After winning a few matches, she started to get too big for her boots, thinking she was unbeatable.
-
When he criticized the manager in front of the team, it was clear he was too big for his boots.
Synonyms
8
7.8
To say you are more important or successful than you really are
4
7.0
To act or speak in a proud, boastful way
4
8.6
Claiming to be more important or successful than you are
4
8.4
Act as if you are better than other people
3
9.1
Acting more important than you really are
2
7.0
To act very confident and proud to get attention
1
8.8
Acting too proud and thinking you are better than others
1
8.1
To act as if you are better than other people
To think you are better than other people
Antonyms
How Arrogant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'too' and 'big' convey excessiveness, which gives a partial cue that the expression refers to someone exceeding an appropriate limit. However, the phrase 'for one's boots' is idiomatic and the literal meaning of 'boots' does not transparently explain the social meaning of arrogance; the overall sense is partly inferable but requires prior exposure to the figurative comparator.
Etymology
Too big for one's boots may come from the image of someone who has outgrown their shoes: if a person is literally too big for their boots, the boots no longer fit and the person stands taller than before. That's why the phrase now means 'acting too proud' or thinking you are more important than you really are.