Idiom
blow one's own trumpet
Meanings
To boast about your own abilities, qualities, or achievements.
Definition
To blow one's own trumpet means to talk proudly about your own achievements, often in a way that annoys others.
If you blow your own trumpet, you praise yourself and your successes. It suggests you are trying to impress other people by talking about how good you are. In British English, it often carries a slightly negative tone, meaning you are boasting rather than being modest.
Examples
- I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but I did finish the project early.
- He’s always blowing his own trumpet about his contacts in the industry.
- She refused to blow her own trumpet in the interview, even though she was highly qualified.
- Stop blowing your own trumpet and let your work speak for itself.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say “blow my trumpet” without “own,” but the natural idiom is “blow one’s own trumpet.”
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.