False Modesty

B2 8+

Collocations of false modesty

false humility
Frequency: 70 %

His false humility masked his true arrogance.

fake modesty
Frequency: 60 %

She put on a show of fake modesty to impress her peers.

pretended humility
Frequency: 50 %

Her pretended humility was seen through by those who knew her well.

feigned modesty
Frequency: 45 %

His feigned modesty fooled no one.

Idiomatic Expressions for false modesty

  • Phrase: Blow your own trumpet
    Meaning: To boast about one's own achievements or abilities, often in a way that is seen as lacking in modesty.
    Usage: I know you don't like to blow your own trumpet, but sometimes you need to speak up about your accomplishments.