boast 1 (b st)v. boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts v.intr. To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way. v.tr. 1. To speak of with excessive pride. 2. To possess or own (a desirable feature): "[the] capital of a region in the southeast that boasts bountiful coal fields" (US Air). 3. To contain; have. n. 1. The act or an instance of bragging. 2. A source of pride. [Middle English bosten, from bost, a brag.] boast  er n.boast ful adj.boast ful·ly adv.boast ful·ness n.Synonyms: boast1, brag, crow2, vaunt These verbs all mean to speak with pride, often excessive pride, about oneself or something related to oneself. Boast is the most general: "We confide [that is, have confidence] in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it" (Thomas Jefferson). Brag implies exaggerated claims and often an air of insolent superiority: He bragged about his grades. Crow stresses exultation and often loud rejoicing: No candidate should crow until the votes have been counted. Vaunt suggests ostentatiousness and lofty extravagance of expression: "He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it" (James Boswell). Usage Note: Some have objected to the use of boast as a transitive verb meaning "to possess or own (a desirable feature)," as in This network boasts an audience with a greater concentration of professionals and managers than any other broadcast vehicle. This usage is by now well established, however, and is acceptable to 62 percent of the Usage Panel. |
| boast 2 (bst) tr.v. boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts To shape or form (stone) roughly with a broad chisel. [Origin unknown.] |
Boasting
blow one’s own trumpet To brag or boast; to call attention to one’s own accomplishments, usually with the implication that no one else is likely to do so; also, to toot one’s own horn. Though specific customs have been cited as giving rise to the phrase, the widespread and longstanding use of trumpets as attention-getting instruments seems explanation enough. Important personages and proclamations have long been heralded by a flourish of trumpets. In the New Testament, Jesus tells his followers not to blow their own horns, so to speak:
When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. (Matthew 6:2)
crow over To exult over a victory or accomplishment; to boast or vaunt. The allusion is to a gamecock’s exultant crowing after defeating an opponent. This expression dates from 1588.
Dutch courage See BRAVERY.
geneva courage See BRAVERY.
| Noun | 1. | boasting - speaking of yourself in superlatives speech act - the use of language to perform some act crowing, gasconade, line-shooting, vaporing, brag, bragging, crow - an instance of boastful talk; "his brag is worse than his fight"; "whenever he won we were exposed to his gasconade" vaunt - extravagant self-praise self-assertion - the act of putting forth your own opinions in a boastful or inconsiderate manner that implies you feel superior to others |
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