brag
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to talk with too much pride about what you have done or what you own.
v.to speak with excessive pride or self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities. Often used with the preposition 'about'.
Simple“He always brags about how much money he earns at his new job.”
In context“It is considered poor etiquette to brag about your professional successes in front of colleagues who are currently facing redundancy.”
UsageThe verb is usually intransitive and followed by 'about' or 'of'.
PitfallShe bragged for her high grades. She bragged about her high grades.Use the preposition 'about' or 'of' after brag, not 'for'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a statement where someone talks too proudly about themselves.
n.an instance of boastful talk or a specific claim made with excessive pride.
Simple“His claim that he could run a marathon in three hours turned out to be a hollow brag.”
In context“The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as a series of empty brags designed to distract from the failing economy.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'empty brag' to describe a claim that is not true.
Synonymsboastvaunt - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.very good or excellent.
adj.denoting something of superior quality or excellence.
Simple“That was a brag performance by the lead singer tonight.”
In context“The local team put on a brag display of skill, surprising the visiting champions with their tactical discipline.”
Teacher's tipThis adjective sense is very rare in modern standard English; learners will mostly encounter it in older literature or specific regional dialects.