THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Blow your own trumpet
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To talk proudly about your own achievements, sometimes in a boastful way.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- You do not need to blow your own trumpet every time the team succeeds.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
You do not need to ________ every time the team succeeds.
Show the answer
Blow your own trumpet — To talk proudly about your own achievements, sometimes in a boastful way.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Blow your own trumpet” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To talk proudly about your own achievements, sometimes in a boastful way.
Compare: You do not need to blow your own trumpet every time the team succeeds.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this mainly British conversational expression when discussing self-praise. It may sound critical, though I do not want to blow my own trumpet can soften a positive statement about yourself.
More examples in context
- I do not want to blow my own trumpet, but the guide I wrote has helped several new volunteers.
- He rarely blows his own trumpet, so his colleagues mentioned his contribution.
Usage note
Change your to my, her, his or another possessive. The past form is blew. American variations include blow your own horn and toot your own horn. Reporting an achievement factually is not necessarily excessive boasting.
A short conversation
A: Did you tell the organiser that you solved the issue?
B: No. I do not like blowing my own trumpet.
A: You can explain your contribution without exaggerating.
One more practice question
What is someone doing when they blow their own trumpet?
A. Drawing attention to their own achievements.
B. Describing only another person’s achievements.
Check your answer
A. The expression concerns self-praise, which may sound boastful depending on the context.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.