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to blow one's own trumpet

to blow one's own trumpet

1 7.8
To talk proudly about your own abilities or achievements
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : hablar de uno mismo
  • You just have to blow your own trumpet because for sure no one else will do it for you.

Examples

  • I seem to be having a week of blowing my own trumpet.

    Blog text (27)
  • I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet, kid, but you and I are rocket scientists compared to your normal breed of dog.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Not that she was ever one to blow her own trumpet, but he could see it in her eyes.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • # Gather around # While I blow my own trumpet -

  • Yes, I know I'm blowing my own trumpet, but there you go.

    Blog text (17)
  • "Well, hell, I don't like to blow my own trumpet --"

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but I was a good plotter.

  • I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but they know Martin Cahill's the General because, you know, of what I write in the Sunday Independent.

  • It's important to blow your own trumpet sometimes so that others can recognize your hard work.

  • If you want a promotion, you need to blow your own trumpet and highlight your accomplishments.

Synonyms

to brag
vsto blow one's own trumpet
191 2.7

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

is similar but can cover less showy, more ordinary proud talk
to blow
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Informal
151 7.7

To talk proudly about achievements to make others admire you

is a neutral expression used in more formal contexts
to boast
vsto blow one's own trumpet
96 3.1

To talk proudly about your achievements to impress people

is similar but often describes milder proud talk
to tout
vsto blow one's own trumpet
65 6.1

To praise or advertise something strongly to make people want it

is specifically about proud personal talk rather than general promotion
to pat oneself on the back
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Informal
28 6.9

To praise yourself too much for something you did

is about talking proudly to others, not only self congratulation
to talk big
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Informal
8 7.8

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

is used for proud talk that may be honest, not only exaggerated claims
to toot your own horn
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Informal
7 7.5

To talk proudly about things you have done

is the same idea expressed by a different phrase
to crow about
vsto blow one's own trumpet
6 7.9

To brag in a way that annoys other people

is used for proud talk but not necessarily meant to annoy others
to puff
vsto blow one's own trumpet
4 7.0

To act or speak in a proud, boastful way

is mainly plain proud talk rather than showy self importance
to vaunt
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Archaic
1 8.9

To talk proudly about your achievements to show off

is more about personal achievement talk than showy praise
to trumpet one's achievements
vsto blow one's own trumpet
7.0

To talk proudly about your success in public

is used for any proud talk, not only public announcements
to brag excessively
vsto blow one's own trumpet
6.2

To talk too proudly about yourself or what you have done

is similar but can be simply proud without exaggeration
to gasconade
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Archaic
9.9

To talk about yourself to show you are more important

is general proud talk that may be less extravagant
to mog
vsto blow one's own trumpet
  • Slang
9.9

To brag about what you have done

is broader, including proud talk without showiness

Antonyms

59 5.3

Show something as less important or serious than it is

How Boastful

to flaunt
62 5.7
to brag
191 2.7
to blow one's own trumpet
  • UK
1 7.8
to talk up
13 4.1

Surface Forms

blowing one's own trumpet present participle
blows one's own trumpet third person singular
blown one's own trumpet past participle

Morphology

blow + one + own + trumpet

The literal senses of 'blow' (to produce sound) and 'trumpet' (an instrument used to proclaim loudly), together with 'own' marking the subject, transparently convey the idea of loudly announcing something about oneself. This compositional logic (similar to 'blow your own horn') is cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The idiom blow one's own trumpet may come from the picture of a person loudly blowing a trumpet to get everyone's attention and show off. That's why today it means 'to boast' or talk proudly about your own achievements.