line-shooter
Definition
Noun: A person who habitually boasts or talks in an exaggerated, self-aggrandizing manner; a braggart.
Usage
The term "line-shooter" is used to describe someone who frequently makes exaggerated or untruthful claims about their own abilities, achievements, or experiences in order to impress others. It implies a lack of credibility and a tendency toward empty talk.
Examples
- He's known as a real line-shooter; you can't believe half the stories he tells about his business deals.
- Don't listen to his tales of adventure—he's just a line-shooter.
- The team grew tired of the new recruit, who was a constant line-shooter about his past accomplishments.
Advanced Usage
The term often carries a connotation of mild contempt or amusement rather than severe criticism. It is frequently used in informal, conversational contexts to dismiss someone's boasts.
Variants and Related Words
- Line-shooting (noun): The act or habit of boasting extravagantly.
- His constant line-shooting made him unpopular with his colleagues.
Synonyms
- Braggart
- Boaster
- Blowhard
- Egomaniac (stronger, implies pathological self-absorption)
Idioms
- To shoot a line: This is the verbal phrase from which the noun "line-shooter" is derived. It means to boast or talk extravagantly.
- He's always shooting a line about how important he is.
Noun
-
a very boastful and talkative person
