To show off

J

Jean Francoix

Banned
french/Belgium
Hello,

My friend said for a joke that he's the greatest guy in the world.

What would you reply ? Stop showing off or perhaps don't speak too soon or you are off track. Is there something appropriate in this context ?

Thank you

Jean Francoix
 
    • It's already too late for a snappy comeback :( They have to be spur-of-the-moment things :D

    How about "Which world?"
     
    So the situation is that he said, "I am the greatest guy in the world"?

    There are many ways to respond to this.Maxiogee's "Which world" is a wonderful comeback. :)

    I'm assuming you are looking for common responses in English to this kind of bragging. Here are a few that I hear regularly:

    "Yeah, the greatest guy... and so modest, too."
    "Keep that up and your head won't fit through the door."
    "You are a legend in your own mind." (a play on the phrase "He is a legend in his own time.")

    I'm sure you'll get a great list of them from others. It's too early on a Monday morning for me to do a serviceable job on this list. :)

    Maxiogee's is wonderful. I don't think I've ever heard it before, so it's not a cliché response like those I've listed above, at least to me. You are looking for stock/cliché responses, correct? Common phrases?
     
    Jean Francoix said:
    Hello,

    My friend said for a joke that he's the greatest guy in the world.

    What would you reply ? Stop showing off or perhaps don't speak too soon or you are off track. Is there something appropriate in this context ?
    Click to expand...

    What would you reply? That depends entirely on the outcome you are seeking. Why don't you tell us the effect you would like to create for your friend, or for potential listeners.
     
    If a person is constantly bragging about themselves you would say that they are big headed He is really big headed. That is used a lot when talking about people who rate themselves (to rate yourself means you think you are great)
     
    Well, a friend of mine once replied (to me) "No, not really but you're getting there" :D but you have to be extra sure your friend (if, that is, he's overweight) isn't feeling bad about the extra kilos.

    "Which means you'll buy the next round" is a good one (also a not-so-covert HINT).

    "It's not a nose/ear/feet contest you know" is evil too.

    "Lower your nose or you'll hit a lamp-post" and "if your head grows any bigger you'll be the most unusual/ugly/'vivid' ballon in the world" work for me.
     
    I have to say Ireney, the expressions you used are not heard in England..Are they expressions that you use in Greece?..i don't think they translate to English.
     
    A lot of these comebacks seem to rely on the meaning of "great" as "big," which is hardly ever used in American speech.

    I have a friend who has been known to say, "His head won't fit through the door any more."

    JamesM's and maxiogee's responses are excellent. If you wanted to tell your friend to be less conceited (and didn't care about being witty), you could say, "Get over yourself." Let your tone of voice convey the right amount of amusement or seriousness.
     
    Macymoo said:
    I have to say Ireney, the expressions you used are not heard in England..Are they expressions that you use in Greece?..i don't think they translate to English.
    Click to expand...

    They may not be heard, but they translate perfectly - and wickedly. I'll be sending adoption papers to ireney for her to sign, so I can use one or two of them as my own :D
     
    Macymoo said:
    I have to say Ireney, the expressions you used are not heard in England..Are they expressions that you use in Greece?..i don't think they translate to English.
    Click to expand...


    Macymoo I wasn't trying for standard English expressions since that "field" was covered already in an excellent way.

    Maxiogee I am flattered! Yours for using if I can use the "Which world" one :)
     
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