Brag
/bræɡ/
verbnounB1
Definition
Brag means to say something about yourself that shows you are proud of what you have done, often more than necessary. It can be about your skills, possessions, or success. Sometimes, people think bragging is rude because it sounds like you want others to admire you.
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See It in Action
To talk proudly about yourself or your achievements
- •He likes to brag about his new car.
- •She bragged that she got the highest score on the test.
- •Don’t brag too much, or people might not like it.
The act or statement of showing off
- •His brag about winning the race annoyed his friends.
- •That brag made her seem a little arrogant.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "brag" like "talk" (A1 word), but specifically when you talk about yourself in a proud or showy way
- ✓Picture someone loudly telling friends about a big prize they won, trying to get attention
- ✓It's the feeling when you want others to know how good you are at something, maybe to feel important or happy
- ✓Sounds like "bag" → imagine someone carrying a big bag full of trophies and showing it to everyone
- ✓Think of a character in stories who always wants to be the center of attention by telling about their great things
- ✓NOT like "share" (giving information kindly), brag is more about showing off and wanting praise
- ✓NOT like "complain" (talking about bad things), brag is talking about good things but too proudly
- ✓NOT like "humble" (being quiet about your success), brag is loud and confident
Try Other Words
- •Boast: to speak proudly about something you have done (Use when you want a slightly more formal or serious word)
- •Show off: to try to get attention by talking about yourself (Use when you want to describe the action in a more informal way)
- •Talk proudly: to speak about yourself with pride (Use in simple, clear situations)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix, base word "brag")
- •Etymology: Old English "braggen," meaning to boast or brag
- •Historical development: Used for many centuries to describe proud talk about oneself or achievements
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday speech to describe someone showing off or speaking proudly about themselves
- •Key insight: A simple, direct word to describe proud or showy talk about oneself
Reflect & Connect
•When is it okay to brag, and when does it become annoying or rude?
•How do you feel when someone brags to you? Does it change your opinion about them?
Fill in the blanks
1.He bragged about his new phone because he wanted to ___ with his friends.
2.People often think someone is bragging when they talk too much about their ___.
3.Instead of sharing quietly, she chose to brag ___ about her success.
4.A brag can make others feel ___ if it sounds too proud or showy.
5.When you brag, you usually want to get ___ or attention from others.
6.Unlike sharing good news kindly, to brag means to speak in a way that may ___ others.
7.After he bragged, his friends told him to be more ___ and not so loud.