false modesty

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

false modesty (countable and uncountable, plural false modesties)

  1. Behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering.
    Although having a large ego is considered undesirable, at times it is proper to take credit where it is due rather than display false modesty.
    • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
      At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

Translations

[edit]

See also

[edit]