Blow your own trumpet

Definitions

• boasting or bragging about oneself
  To talk highly of oneself and one's accomplishments, often in a boastful or self-promoting manner

• self-promotion or self-praise
  To promote oneself or one's abilities, often in a boastful or self-promoting manner

Examples of Blow your own trumpet

• John was busy showcasing his own skills and constantly boasting about his achievements, almost like he was blowing his own trumpet.

  This example means that John was overly proud of himself and was excessively praising his abilities. It implies that he was being overconfident and excessively self-promoting.

• The CEO of the company kept blowing his own trumpet in the board meeting, making grand claims without any evidence to support them.

  This example shows that the CEO was being overly confident and self-promoting by exaggerating his claims without any solid evidence. It implies that he lacked humility and was being too boastful.

• She was always blowing her own trumpet, but her colleagues saw through her facade and knew that she was exaggerating her abilities.

  In this example, the person being referred to is always self-promoting, but others can see that she is overexaggerating her abilities, implying that she is being dishonest.

• The team leader's presentation was so impressive that it seemed like he was blowing his own trumpet, but upon questioning, his team members confirmed that his claims were not exaggerated.

  In this scenario, the team leader's achievements were so impressive that they appeared like he was being excessively self-promoting. However, when questioned, his team members confirmed that his claims were genuine. This example highlights the difference between being confident and being honest. While being confident is good, it should not come at the cost of honesty and humility.

• The CEO blew his own trumpet during the annual shareholders' meeting, boasting about the record-breaking profits that his company had achieved the previous year.

  The CEO was excessively proud of his company's financial success and took every opportunity to promote his own achievements rather than crediting his team.

• Sarah's constant bragging about her awards and achievements was starting to grate on her colleagues, who felt that she was blowing her own trumpet a little too loudly.

  Sarah's behaviour was becoming over-the-top and detracting from her professional reputation, as her colleagues felt that she was being overly self-promoting.

• After landing a major client, David was keen to take the credit, blowing his own trumpet to his boss and colleagues about his successful negotiations.

  David was keen to impress his superiors and colleagues with his professional achievements, but his excessive self-promotion could have negative consequences for his reputation and relationships.

• In an interview, the politician was quick to blow his own trumpet, taking credit for various successful initiatives but failing to mention the contributions of his team and collaborators.

  The politician's behaviour was seen as arrogant and self-aggrandising, as he was failing to acknowledge the team effort that goes into achieving any significant result.

Conclusion

The idiom "blow your own trumpet" is typically used to describe someone who is overly confident and constantly talks about their own achievements or abilities. It can also be used to caution against this behavior, as it is often perceived as arrogant or boastful. The idiom can be used in both a negative and positive context, depending on the tone and intention of the speaker.

In a negative sense, "blow your own trumpet" can be seen as an expression of vanity or arrogance, as it implies that the person is constantly praising themselves and seeking validation from others. This can be off-putting and may turn people away from wanting to interact with that person.

On the other hand, in a positive sense, "blow your own trumpet" can be used to encourage someone to speak up about their accomplishments or skills. In certain situations, it may be necessary for someone to promote themselves in order to advance their career or receive recognition for their hard work.

Origin of "Blow your own trumpet"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient Greece, where trumpets were used in military parades and ceremonies. It was common for soldiers to blow their own trumpets to announce their victory or achievements in battle. This concept was later adopted in the English language and evolved into the figurative meaning of boasting or self-promotion.

Another theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from medieval minstrels who would play the trumpet as they walked through the streets, announcing their own arrival and promoting their performances. This could be seen as a form of self-promotion, which eventually led to the phrase "blow your own trumpet."

Overall, the idiom "blow your own trumpet" has been in use for centuries and has evolved to encompass both positive and negative connotations. It serves as a reminder to be humble and avoid excessive self-promotion, while also recognizing the importance of advocating for oneself in certain situations.