- Meaning
- This idiom means to boast about one’s achievements, skills, or qualities, often to gain recognition or impress others. It suggests self-promotion, sometimes with a hint of arrogance, but can also be used positively to encourage confidence in sharing accomplishments.
- Origin
- The phrase comes from medieval Europe, where heralds blew horns to announce important figures or events. By the 16th century, it was metaphorical, with a 1576 text by George Whetstone using ‘blow his own horn’ to describe self-praise. In 19th-century America, it gained popularity, especially in journalism, as seen in Walt Whitman’s writings. The variant ‘trumpet’ emerged later, but ‘horn’ remains more common, reflecting American individualism.
- Variants
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- Blow your own trumpet
- Toot your own horn
- Examples
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- She’s not one to blow her own horn, but her work deserves recognition.
- If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will know about your achievements.
- He blew his own trumpet about his sales record, annoying his colleagues.
- Toot your own horn at the interview—don’t be shy about your skills.
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