beat one's chest
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]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.
Verb
[edit]beat one's chest (third-person singular simple present beats one's chest, present participle beating one's chest, simple past beat one's chest, past participle beaten one's chest or (colloquial) beat one's chest)
- To brag ostentatiously.
- beating his chest about his accomplishments
- Synonym of beat one's breast (“lament”)