Humble Brag
what it means
"So exhausted from all this travelling for work." The complaint is the wrapping; the achievement is the parcel, and everyone can see it.
A boast disguised as a complaint or a modest observation.
the origin story
Coined by comedian and writer Harris Wittels around 2010, who catalogued examples on Twitter and in a subsequent book.
The term named something people had always done but never had a word for, and it spread quickly enough to be added to major dictionaries. Research has since suggested humble brags are often received worse than plain boasting, since they add the appearance of insincerity.
in the wild
"Ugh, so tired from the third award ceremony this month."
Textbook humble brag.
Why not just say you won?
That would be less annoying, honestly.
how to use it
- Calling out a disguised boast
- Discussing social media behaviour
- Casual conversation
- About someone genuinely struggling with something enviable
- Professionally
- As a way to discourage people sharing good news
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
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