the.com/bragging

the verbal flex that shrinks the moment it's announced and grows when it stays quiet

means Talking up your own achievements, possessions, or qualities in a way meant to impress, usually with more pride than tact.

from From the verb 'brag,' which surfaces in Middle English meaning to make a loud, boastful noise. Its deeper roots are murky — possibly related to a Celtic or Old Norse word for blowing one's own trumpet, but no clean ancestor has been pinned down. The word once carried a sense of showy liveliness as much as boasting, a cousin of the old 'braggart.' The '-ing' simply turns the act of boasting into an ongoing performance.

origin
From Middle English 'braggen,' meaning to make a loud noise
brain chemistry
Self-disclosure triggers the same reward circuits as money
humblebrag
Coined by comedian Harris Wittels in 2010
backfire
Studies show bragging makes listeners trust you less
peacock logic
Costly displays signal you can afford the waste
for instance

muhammad ali — boxer who proclaimed himself 'the greatest' before winning the heavyweight championship in 1964

kanye west — rapper known for repeated public declarations of genius and comparisons to historical figures since 2000s

andrew tate — influencer imprisoned in romania who built online persona around wealth and superiority claims

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