← Back to collection
Region: General | Usage example: He tends to blow his own horn at every meeting.

Blow your own horn

Meaning

Brag about your own achievements.

Usage

Used when cautioning against self-promotion.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Musicians played horns to announce themselves.

Used in 19th century plus to describe boastful behavior.

Related Idioms

Blow one's own horn

Boast about one's achievements.

Keep your cards close to your chest

Remain secretive about your plans.

Blow your own trumpet

Boast about oneself.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.