verb
Meaning 1
To brag ostentatiously.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- beating his chest about his accomplishments
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
beat one's chest
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
verb
Meaning 2
Synonym of beat one's breast (“lament”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: beat one's breast
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
The bragging sense may have come from, and certainly connotatively evokes, the theme of gorillas beating their chests in displays of dominance, aggression, defense, or otherwise.