Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

break one's arm patting oneself on the back

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.80 in modern English

Syllables
break one's ar-m -pat-ting one-self on the back
IPA
60
Scrabble Score
35
Letters
5
Syllables
17
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be very full of oneself. Often used as a sarcastic caution: "don't break your arm patting yourself on the back".

Derogatory; Humorous

Example Sentences

Etymology

From pat on the back, and the uncomfortable position one would have to assume while patting their own back.

Usage

Inflected Forms

breaks one's arm patting oneself on the back (present, singular) breaking one's arm patting oneself on the back (participle, present) broke one's arm patting oneself on the back (past) broken one's arm patting oneself on the back (participle, past) dislocate one's shoulder patting oneself on the back (alternative) hurt one's arm patting oneself on the back (alternative) hurt one's shoulder patting oneself on the back (alternative) hurt one's hand patting oneself on the back (alternative)

Synonyms

toot one's own horn

Questions

What does break one's arm patting oneself on the back mean?
To be very full of oneself. Often used as a sarcastic caution: "don't break your arm patting yourself on the back".
Where does break one's arm patting oneself on the back come from?
From pat on the back, and the uncomfortable position one would have to assume while patting their own back.

How to pronounce break one's arm patting oneself on the back

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