1boast1 (bəʊst
)
Definitions
verb
- (intr; sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
- (tr) to possess (something to be proud of) ⇒
the city boasts a fine cathedral
noun
- a bragging statement
- a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about
Alternative Forms
ˈboaster noun ˈboasting noun adjective ˈboastingly adverbWord Origin
C13: of uncertain origin2boast2 (bəʊst)
Definitions
verb
- (tr) to shape or dress (stone) roughly with a broad chisel
Word Origin
C19: of unknown origin3boast3 (bəʊst) squash
Definitions
noun
- a stroke in which the ball is hit on to one of the side walls before hitting the front wall
verb
- to hit (the ball) in this way or make such a stroke
Alternative Forms
ˈboasted adjectiveWord Origin
C19: perhaps from French bosse the place where the ball hits the wallQuotations
"A mule always boasts that its ancestors were horses"
Translations
- British English:
boast
If someone boasts about something that they have done or that they own, they talk about it very proudly, in a way that other people may find irritating or offensive.He boasted about his new job.bəʊst VERB He boasted about his new job.
- Spanish:
alardear
v
- French:
se vanter de
vi
- German:
prahlen
v
- Chinese: 自夸 v
- Arabic: يَتَبَاهى v
- Portuguese: gabar-se v
- Russian: хвастать(ся) v
- Croatian: hvaliti se v
- Czech: vychloubat (se) v
- Danish: prale v
- Dutch: opscheppen v
- Finnish: kerskailla v
- Greek: καυχιέμαι v
- Italian: vantarsi v
- Japanese: 自慢する v
- Korean: 자랑하다 v
- Norwegian: skryte v
- Polish: pochwalić się v chwalić się
- Brazilian Portuguese: gabar-se v
- European Spanish:
alardear
v
- Swedish: skryta v
- Thai: พูดยกย่องตัวเองจนเกินไป v
- Turkish: böbürlenmek v
- Vietnamese: khoe khoang v
Usage examples
He has had a few finds, nothing much so far to boast about, but comforting, I suppose.
, The Black Opal (1993)Relatively lightweight planets are easier to detect around these stars, which themselves boast just half the mass of the Sun.
New Scientist (2004)Sharply critical of the Minister for Justice, he said Mr O'Donoghue's only boast could be that he provided 1,300 additional prison places.
Irish Times (2002)Today Nicholls defended his decision to boast about his hooligan activities in print.
Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2002)As late as 1869 Archbishop Cullen (now a Cardinal) was able to boast that only thirty-seven Catholic students were working for degrees.
, THE FOUR NATIONS: A History of the United Kingdom (2002)