brag
/bræɡ/ (bre, ipa) · [brˈæɡ] /bræɡ/ (ame, ipa) · [brˈæɡ] /ˈbrag How to pronounce brag (audio)/ (ame, mw)
brag — verb
- bragpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bragshe / she / it
- braggedpast simple
- bragging-ing form
1. to talk in a too-proud way about your success, skill, or possessions so other pe
to talk in a too-proud way about your success, skill, or possessions so other people will admire you.
Zayd bragged about his exam score before anyone else saw the paper.
brag about + achievement
After the race, Sofia kept bragging that she had beaten her older brother.
brag that + clause
At lunch, Hugo bragged to the new staff about his private parking space.
The salesman bragged for an hour, but nobody trusted his promise.
- downplay
make an achievement seem less important
- stay modest
avoid drawing attention to your success
文法句型
brag about + achievement/possession
brag that + clause
brag to + person + about + thing
用法筆記
Usually takes a phrase with about or a that-clause naming the thing the speaker feels proud of. It often sounds disapproving because the speaker wants attention more than honest conversation.
常見錯誤
brag — noun
1. a remark that praises the speaker's own success or possessions in an annoying wa
a remark that praises the speaker's own success or possessions in an annoying way.
Gabriel's story about his luxury watch sounded more like a brag than friendly chat.
sound like a brag
The coach ignored Evan's latest brag about being faster than every defender.
a brag about + achievement
Mina's speech ended with a small brag about meeting the mayor twice.
At dinner, the toast turned into a brag about his expensive ski holiday.
- confession
admits weakness instead of praising yourself
- complaint
focuses on problems rather than success
文法句型
a brag about + success/possession
sound like + a brag
用法筆記
Often appears after verbs like 'sound' or in phrases with about to name what the speaker is proud of. It refers to one specific self-praising comment, unlike sense 2, which is a general attitude or style.
2. an overly proud way of speaking or behaving that shows someone enjoys feeling ab
an overly proud way of speaking or behaving that shows someone enjoys feeling above other people.
There was so much brag in his voice that the whole room went quiet.
brag in + voice
The article strips away the brag and shows how nervous the singer felt.
strip away the brag
Even her apology had a trace of brag that made the others roll their eyes.
Beneath the brag, the new manager was clearly worried about losing staff.
- humility
shows a modest opinion of yourself
文法句型
brag in + voice/style
beneath/under + the brag
用法筆記
This sense describes the tone or manner around someone's words, not one single comment. Distinguish from sense 1, which is one self-praising statement, and sense 3, which names the person.
3. a person who keeps telling other people how impressive they are or what they own
a person who keeps telling other people how impressive they are or what they own.
Everyone at the card table knew Nico was a brag by the second round.
be a brag
Nobody wanted to travel with the brag from sales who mocked every cheap hotel.
the brag from + group
In the play, the village brag keeps boasting until his friends leave the stage.
Mira says her brother can be a brag when he talks about his gym record.
- modest person
avoids praising themselves
文法句型
be a brag
the brag in/from + group
用法筆記
This rare noun labels the person, not the statement or the style. In modern everyday English, speakers more often choose 'show-off' or 'boaster'.