Ego is how we see ourselves. It’s what we believe about our abilities, looks, or importance. Sometimes, people with big egos think they are better than others. Other times, someone might not show their ego much at all. The way people talk about ego can be funny, serious, or even a bit rude. That’s why people use idioms—to say things in a more colorful or interesting way.
Idioms about ego help us understand how people act when they feel proud or want to show off. These expressions are used in books, movies, and everyday speech. They can make language more fun and help us talk about how someone feels about themselves. In this article, we will look at 28 idioms about ego and learn what they mean.
Idioms About Ego
1. Big head
Meaning: Someone who thinks too much of themselves.
Example Sentence:
• After scoring the winning goal, Jake got a big head.
• Lisa has had a big head ever since she got the lead role in the play.
Other ways to say: Full of yourself, acting proud
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that a person’s head is too big from pride.
Usage: Used when someone acts like they are better than others.
2. Full of oneself
Meaning: Believing you are very important.
Example Sentence:
• Mark is full of himself after winning the spelling bee.
• She was full of herself at the party and didn’t talk to anyone.
Other ways to say: Cocky, self-centered
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests a person is so focused on themselves, they can’t see others.
Usage: Used when someone is overly proud.
3. Toot your own horn
Meaning: To brag about yourself.
Example Sentence:
• Tim kept tooting his own horn after he won the art contest.
• I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I did well on the test.
Other ways to say: Brag, show off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old days when people used horns to get attention.
Usage: Used when someone talks too much about their own success.
4. Put on airs
Meaning: To act better than others.
Example Sentence:
• She started putting on airs after getting a new phone.
• Don’t put on airs just because you’re in a fancy outfit.
Other ways to say: Act proud, look down on others
Fun Fact/Origin: “Airs” means false ways of acting important.
Usage: Used when someone tries to look fancier than they are.
5. Ego trip
Meaning: Doing something just to feel important.
Example Sentence:
• Being class monitor turned into an ego trip for him.
• She went on an ego trip after getting praised by the teacher.
Other ways to say: Show off, power play
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the 1960s to describe people enjoying power too much.
Usage: Used when someone enjoys power just to feel great about themselves.
6. All that and a bag of chips
Meaning: Thinking you’re better than everyone else.
Example Sentence:
• She walked into school like she was all that and a bag of chips.
• He acts like he’s all that and a bag of chips just because he got new sneakers.
Other ways to say: Overconfident, showing off
Fun Fact/Origin: A fun saying from the 1990s that means someone thinks they are more special than they really are.
Usage: Used when someone acts too cool or too proud.
7. Legend in your own mind
Meaning: Thinking you’re great, even if others don’t.
Example Sentence:
• He thinks he’s a basketball star, but he’s a legend in his own mind.
• She’s a legend in her own mind when it comes to singing.
Other ways to say: Self-important, daydreaming big
Fun Fact/Origin: Started as a funny way to describe people who think they are famous or amazing.
Usage: Used for people who believe they are better than they are.
8. Blow your own trumpet
Meaning: To talk about your own achievements a lot.
Example Sentence:
• Stop blowing your own trumpet about getting an A.
• He always blows his own trumpet after every game.
Other ways to say: Brag, boast
Fun Fact/Origin: From the old idea of using a trumpet to announce something important.
Usage: Used when someone brags about what they’ve done.
9. Get too big for your britches
Meaning: Acting more important than you really are.
Example Sentence:
• Don’t get too big for your britches just because you got a compliment.
• He got too big for his britches after making the team.
Other ways to say: Too proud, overconfident
Fun Fact/Origin: “Britches” means pants; it’s like saying someone is growing too fast in pride.
Usage: Used when someone starts acting overly proud.
10. Look down your nose at someone
Meaning: To act like others are not as good as you.
Example Sentence:
• She looked down her nose at kids who wore old clothes.
• Don’t look down your nose at people who like different music.
Other ways to say: Judge others, be snobby
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the way people lift their heads when they feel better than others.
Usage: Used when someone acts rude or snobby.
11. Walk around like you own the place
Meaning: Acting like you’re the boss.
Example Sentence:
• He walked into the classroom like he owned the place.
• She walks around like she owns the place at recess.
Other ways to say: Bossy, overly confident
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests someone acts like they have full control even when they don’t.
Usage: Used when someone acts overly powerful or important.
12. Too cool for school
Meaning: Acting like you’re too good for others.
Example Sentence:
• She acts too cool for school and never joins our group.
• He’s too cool for school and skips class games.
Other ways to say: Aloof, proud
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used to describe kids who try to look cooler than others.
Usage: Used when someone avoids others to seem special.
13. Pride comes before a fall
Meaning: If you’re too proud, you might fail.
Example Sentence:
• He laughed at others, then tripped—pride comes before a fall.
• She bragged too much, then lost the game.
Other ways to say: Don’t brag, be humble
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old saying in the Bible.
Usage: Used to warn people not to be too proud.
14. Be on a high horse
Meaning: Acting like you’re better than everyone else.
Example Sentence:
• She was on her high horse after getting a good grade.
• Get off your high horse and be kind.
Other ways to say: Arrogant, snobby
Fun Fact/Origin: In history, rich people rode tall horses to look powerful.
Usage: Used when someone acts proud and looks down on others.
15. Know-it-all
Meaning: A person who always thinks they’re right.
Example Sentence:
• He’s such a know-it-all in class.
• No one likes a know-it-all during group work.
Other ways to say: Smart aleck, show-off
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to describe people who give answers even when not asked.
Usage: Used when someone acts like they know everything.
16. Feed someone’s ego
Meaning: To make someone feel more proud.
Example Sentence:
• Giving him another trophy just fed his ego.
• Don’t feed her ego by saying she’s always right.
Other ways to say: Boost pride, make someone feel special
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests the ego gets “bigger” like it’s being fed.
Usage: Used when someone becomes more proud after praise.
17. Think the world revolves around you
Meaning: Thinking you are the most important.
Example Sentence:
• He thinks the world revolves around him.
• She got upset when no one clapped—she thinks the world revolves around her.
Other ways to say: Selfish, self-focused
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of someone thinking everything should be about them.
Usage: Used for someone who always wants attention.
18. Act like God’s gift
Meaning: Acting like you’re perfect.
Example Sentence:
• He acts like he’s God’s gift to basketball.
• She acts like God’s gift to singing and won’t take advice.
Other ways to say: Arrogant, too proud
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests someone thinks they’re a special gift to the world.
Usage: Used when someone thinks too highly of themselves.
19. Blow things out of proportion
Meaning: Making something seem bigger than it is.
Example Sentence:
• She blew it out of proportion when no one laughed at her joke.
• He acted like missing a question was the end of the world.
Other ways to say: Exaggerate, overreact
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of “blowing up” an issue.
Usage: Used when someone overreacts due to pride or embarrassment.
20. Show off
Meaning: To act in a way that gets attention.
Example Sentence:
• He always shows off during gym class.
• She showed off her new shoes to everyone.
Other ways to say: Brag, be flashy
Fun Fact/Origin: Simple and widely used in English.
Usage: Used when someone wants to be noticed.
21. Look at me attitude
Meaning: Always wanting attention.
Example Sentence:
• She wore a sparkly outfit just for her look-at-me attitude.
• He kept raising his hand to get noticed.
Other ways to say: Attention seeker, show-off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people acting in ways that scream “look at me.”
Usage: Used when someone tries too hard to be seen.
22. Talk a big game
Meaning: Speaking with confidence but not doing much.
Example Sentence:
• He talks a big game but never scores.
• She talks a big game about her talent but never performs.
Other ways to say: Brag, all talk
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and games.
Usage: Used when someone talks more than they act.
23. The center of attention
Meaning: The one everyone is watching.
Example Sentence:
• She dressed up to be the center of attention.
• He became the center of attention with his jokes.
Other ways to say: Star, focus
Fun Fact/Origin: From plays where the spotlight is on one person.
Usage: Used when someone enjoys or seeks all eyes on them.
24. All eyes on me
Meaning: Everyone is watching.
Example Sentence:
• When she walked in, it was all eyes on her.
• He loved the stage—he liked all eyes on him.
Other ways to say: Center stage, being watched
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in songs and entertainment.
Usage: Used when someone is the focus.
25. Brush off others
Meaning: Ignoring others as unimportant.
Example Sentence:
• She brushed off her classmates after winning.
• He brushed off my idea like it didn’t matter.
Other ways to say: Ignore, reject
Fun Fact/Origin: Like brushing dirt off your shoulder.
Usage: Used when someone acts like others aren’t good enough.
26. Look in the mirror too much
Meaning: Caring too much about yourself.
Example Sentence:
• He spends hours looking in the mirror before school.
• She looks in the mirror more than she studies.
Other ways to say: Vain, self-obsessed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people admiring themselves.
Usage: Used when someone is too focused on looks.
27. Bigger than their boots
Meaning: Acting more important than you are.
Example Sentence:
• He’s getting bigger than his boots lately.
• After the award, she’s bigger than her boots.
Other ways to say: Too proud, puffed up
Fun Fact/Origin: British idiom comparing pride to shoe size.
Usage: Used when someone acts overly important.
28. Can’t take criticism
Meaning: Gets upset when told they’re wrong.
Example Sentence:
• She can’t take criticism and always argues.
• He got mad when corrected—he can’t take criticism.
Other ways to say: Sensitive, defensive
Fun Fact/Origin: A proud person often dislikes being told they’re wrong.
Usage: Used when someone can’t accept advice or feedback.
Quiz: Idioms About Ego
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “get too big for your britches” mean?
A) You are growing taller than your clothes
B) You are acting more important than you really are
C) You need to buy new pants
2. If someone is “full of themselves,” what are they like?
A) They eat too much
B) They think they are very important
C) They are very shy
3. What does “toot your own horn” mean?
A) Play music loudly
B) Brag about yourself
C) Drive a car
4. If a person “acts like God’s gift,” what are they doing?
A) Helping others
B) Thinking they are perfect
C) Giving presents
5. When someone “walks around like they own the place,” how are they acting?
A) Like they are lost
B) Like they are in charge
C) Like they are afraid
6. What does it mean to “look down your nose” at others?
A) Smell something bad
B) Wear glasses
C) Act like you’re better than others
7. If someone is “a legend in their own mind,” what does it mean?
A) They dream about being famous
B) They think they are great, but others don’t
C) They read books about legends
8. What does it mean to “feed someone’s ego”?
A) Give them food
B) Make them feel more proud
C) Tell them they are wrong
9. If someone “can’t take criticism,” what do they do?
A) They thank others
B) They listen quietly
C) They get upset when corrected
10. What does it mean to “talk a big game”?
A) Play loudly
B) Speak confidently but do little
C) Watch sports with friends
Answer Key
- B – You are acting more important than you really are
- B – They think they are very important
- B – Brag about yourself
- B – Thinking they are perfect
- B – Like they are in charge
- C – Act like you’re better than others
- B – They think they are great, but others don’t
- B – Make them feel more proud
- C – They get upset when corrected
- B – Speak confidently but do little
Wrapping Up
Idioms about ego are fun to learn. They help us talk about people who act proud or think too much of themselves. These phrases make it easier to understand how someone feels or acts. By learning them, you can speak and write in a more colorful way.
Next time you hear someone brag or act bossy, you might think of one of these idioms. Just remember—confidence is good, but it’s best to stay kind and humble too.
