beat (one's) chest

1. To make a public display of one’s emotions, especially anger or sorrow. Sometimes used to indicate that one is exaggerating or being disingenuous. During election season, all the candidates beat their chests about how much they love our communities—and then they get into office and slash community initiatives. Instead of spending all our time beating our chests about these tragedies, we should be putting our energy toward finding a solution to the underlying problem. It has become tiresome how some of these influencers beat their chests about a particular issue, only to forget about it entirely in a month's time.

2. To make an ostentatious display of one's dominance, superiority, and pride. He can beat his chest all he wants about how he's the best CEO the company has ever had, but these layoffs tell a different story. The manager likes to beat his chest and make a big show of his authority during our production meetings, but you'd be hard-pressed to see him doing any actual work around the office. The politician always makes a point of beating his chest during press briefings, never missing a chance to brag about his successes in office.