break one's arm patting oneself on the back

verb

To be very full of oneself. Often used as a sarcastic caution: "don't break your arm patting yourself on the back".

“— We're the best football team in the state! — Careful, dude, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.”

Similar
toot one's own horn
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Meanings

verbbreak one's arm patting oneself on the back (third-person singular simple present breaks one's arm patting oneself on the back, present participle breaking one's arm patting oneself on the back, simple past broke one's arm patting oneself on the back, past participle broken one's arm patting oneself on the back)

present singular third person breaks one's arm patting oneself on the back · participle present breaking one's arm patting oneself on the back · past broke one's arm patting oneself on the back · participle past broken one's arm patting oneself on the back · alternative dislocate one's shoulder patting oneself on the back · alternative hurt one's arm patting oneself on the back · alternative hurt one's shoulder patting oneself on the back · alternative hurt one's hand patting oneself on the back

  1. derogatoryhumorousTo be very full of oneself. Often used as a sarcastic caution: "don't break your arm patting yourself on the back".

    — We're the best football team in the state! — Careful, dude, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.

    Synonyms: toot one's own horn

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo be very full of oneself. Often used as a sarcastic caution: "don't break your arm patting yourself on the back".

Similar
toot one's own horn

Origin

From pat on the back, and the uncomfortable position one would have to assume while patting their own back.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

break one's arm patting oneself on the back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20one's%20arm%20patting%20oneself%20on%20the%20back

MLA

“break one's arm patting oneself on the back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20one's%20arm%20patting%20oneself%20on%20the%20back. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “break one's arm patting oneself on the back,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20one's%20arm%20patting%20oneself%20on%20the%20back.

Source: break one's arm patting oneself on the back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.