Meaning & use
speak boastfully
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Meaning
phraseintransitive
To talk in a way that shows too much pride in oneself or one's achievements.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'about' to specify the topic.
Patterns
- speak boastfully about something
- speak boastfully of something
He tends to speak boastfully about his expensive car.
She spoke boastfully of her son's success, annoying the other parents.
It's not polite to speak boastfully in front of people who have less.
Common combinations
- speak boastfully about
- He likes to speak boastfully about his travels.
- speak boastfully of
- She spoke boastfully of her promotion.
- tend to speak boastfully
- Some people tend to speak boastfully when they are nervous.
Synonyms and how they differ
- brag
- More informal and direct; often used as a verb with an object or gerund.
- boast
- Similar but can be used transitively or intransitively; slightly more formal.
- show off
- Focuses on displaying abilities or possessions, not just speaking.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: speak boastfully or speak proudly?
speak boastfully vs speak proudly
Speaking proudly can be positive and justified; speaking boastfully implies excessive or annoying pride.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'speak boastfully' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option A uses the phrase correctly, though it might be better to say 'spoke proudly' if the tone is positive. Option B is wrong because you wouldn't boast about mistakes. Option C is wrong because boasting is not part of apologizing. Option D is contradictory.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “speak boastfully”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.