barking spider

slang That which is (humorously) said to be the cause of a fart. Come on, man, control the barking spider, will you? It smells horrible in here now. Sorry, the barking spider is generally not happy after I eat dairy. They're 10-year-old boys—of course they think that farts and the "barking spider" are hilarious.

blow (one's) own horn

To boast or brag about one's own abilities, skills, success, achievements, etc. I don't mean to blow my own horn, but this pasta sauce I made is quite delicious! I can't stand being around Marcus ever since his company became such a massive success. The guy just can't stop blowing his own horn! Don't blow your own horn about all the awards you've won, OK? It's unbecoming.

blow (one's) own trumpet

To boast or brag about one's own abilities, skills, success, achievements, etc. Primarily heard in UK. I don't mean to blow my own trumpet, but this pasta sauce I made is quite delicious! I can't stand being around Marcus ever since his company became such a massive success. The guy just can't stop blowing his own trumpet! Don't blow your own trumpet about all the awards you've won, OK? It's unbecoming.

See also: blow, own, trumpet

flourish of trumpets

A musical fanfare. And when I enter, I want to be accompanied by a flourish of trumpets, OK? The flourish of trumpets indicated that the graduates were about to process into the auditorium. Is the flourish of trumpets really necessary? I want these people to accept me as a human being, not tolerate me because I'm the princess.

toot (one's) own trumpet

To boast or brag about one's own abilities, skills, success, achievements, etc. I don't mean to toot my own trumpet, but this pasta sauce I made is quite delicious! I can't stand being around Marcus since his company became such a massive success. The guy just can't stop tooting his own trumpet!

blow one's own horn

Also, blow one's trumpet. Brag about oneself, as in Within two minutes of meeting someone new, Bill was blowing his own horn. [Late 1500s]

blow your own trumpet

BRITISH

COMMON If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people good things about yourself. The three candidates exchanged insults and blew their own trumpets yesterday as each one claimed to be heading for victory. The actress has few equals when it comes to blowing her own trumpet. `You either have it or you don't,' she says. Note: You can say I'm not blowing my own trumpet when you are saying something good about yourself but do not want other people to think you are boasting. I am not blowing my own trumpet but I work a lot quicker than most people. Note: In the past, the arrival of important people in a place was announced by the playing of trumpets. Note: The usual American expression is blow your own horn.

See also: blow, own, trumpet

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

blow your own trumpet

talk openly and boastfully about your achievements.

1998 Spectator I only mention this to blow my own trumpet…it was a source of great pride to be reinstated at the specific behest of Britain's most distinguished black radical journalist.

See also: blow, own, trumpet

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

blow your own ˈtrumpet

(especially British English) (American English usually blow/toot your own ˈhorn) (informal) talk proudly about your own achievements, abilities, etc.; praise yourself: I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but the office was much better run when I was in charge.This phrase refers to the custom of announcing important guests by blowing a loud musical instrument.

See also: blow, own, trumpet

barking spider

and trumpet spider

n. the imaginary source of the sound of an audible release of intestinal gas. (With reference to the image of a anus.) Heidi, do you know anything about the trumpet spider I keep hearing? Although Dr. Waddlington-Stowe had never heard “barking spider” with reference to the affected part, he caught the connection immediately.

trumpet spider

verb

See barking spider

blow one’s own horn

and toot one’s own horn

tv. to brag. Gary sure likes to toot his own horn. Say something nice. I’m not one to blow my own horn.

blow one's own horn/trumpet, to

To brag about one’s own accomplishments or ability, to promote oneself. The term originated in Roman times, and was translated into English early on. “I will sound the trumpet of mine own merits,” wrote Abraham Fleming in 1576. It was a cliché by the mid-nineteenth century, according to Eric Partridge, and gave rise to one of W. S. Gilbert’s numerous puns (“The fellow is blowing his own strumpet,” he said of a manager who was bragging about his actress-mistress).