- Meaning
- This idiom describes boasting or promoting oneself excessively, as if loudly playing a trumpet to draw attention to one’s own achievements. It conveys self-aggrandizement, often used in personal, professional, or social contexts to critique or humorously acknowledge bragging. The phrase carries a tone of mockery, admonition, or playful tolerance, reflecting cultural values of humility and the human tendency to seek recognition. Its musical imagery evokes a bold, attention-grabbing act, resonating in scenarios like self-promotion or arrogance. The idiom highlights the fine line between confidence and vanity, making it a colorful metaphor for self-praise.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in medieval Europe, tied to heralds blowing trumpets to announce nobility, extended metaphorically to self-praise. Its earliest recorded use in English appears in William Shakespeare’s *Othello* (1604), where Iago warns against ‘blowing one’s own trumpet.’ The idiom gained traction in 18th-century Britain, notably in Samuel Johnson’s *The Rambler* (1750s), critiquing vanity. Its spread was amplified by 19th-century literature and journalism, with *The Times* using it for political boasts. Its adoption across English-speaking cultures, especially in the U.K. and U.S., stems from its vivid imagery and relevance to self-promotion.
- Variants
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- Blow your own horn
- Toot your own trumpet
- Blowing your own trumpet
- Examples
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- He’s always blowing his own trumpet about his sales record.
- Blow your own horn if you must, but let your work speak louder.
- Toot your own trumpet, she did, boasting about her promotion.
- Blowing your own trumpet won’t impress this humble crowd.
- She blew her own trumpet, claiming credit for the team’s success.
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