pride



beam with pride

To smile broadly and radiantly due to pride in something or someone. I was simply beaming with pride when my son was awarded his college diploma.
See also: beam, pride

false pride

An exaggeratedly high or pretentious opinion of oneself, one's abilities, or one's circumstance that is not based on real achievement or success. He goes on and on about his literary abilities, but it's just false pride if you ask me—he's never even been published!
See also: false, pride

burst with pride

to be full as if to the bursting point with pride. My parents were bursting with pride when I graduated from college. I almost burst with pride when I was chosen for the first prize.
See also: burst, pride

pride and joy

Fig. something or someone that one is very proud of. (Often in reference to a baby, a car, a house, etc. Fixed order.) And this is our little pride and joy, Roger. Fred pulled up in his pride and joy and asked if I wanted a ride.
See also: and, joy, pride

Pride goes before a fall.

 and Pride goeth before a fall.
Prov. If you are too proud and overconfident, you will make mistakes leading to your defeat. (Biblical.) Sue: I'm the best student in my history class. I'm sure I can pass the exam without studying very hard. Sam: Be careful. Pride goes before a fall, you know.
See also: before, fall, goes, pride

pride oneself in something

 and pride oneself on something
to take pride in one of one's qualities or accomplishments. She prides herself in her ability to spot a shoplifter. I pride myself on my ability to find compromises.
See also: pride

swallow one's pride

Fig. to forget one's pride and accept something humiliating. I had to swallow my pride and admit that I was wrong. When you're trying to master a new skill, you find yourself swallowing your pride quite often.
See also: pride, swallow

take pride in someone or something

to be proud of someone or something. I take a great deal of pride in my children. She takes pride in her work and it shows in her products.
See also: pride, take

pride and joy

a person or thing that gives great pleasure and satisfaction Her garden is her pride and joy.
See also: and, joy, pride

pride yourself on something

to value a special ability that you have He prides himself on his teaching.
See also: on, pride

swallow your pride

to admit that you have been wrong about someone or something He swallowed his pride and called his daughter to apologize. I swallowed my pride and asked for a second chance.
Usage notes: often said about something that has embarrassed you
See also: pride, swallow

take pride (in somebody/something)

to feel pleased about someone or what they have done They take pride in their son's many accomplishments. He takes pride in the fact that he's never asked his parents for any money.
See also: pride, take

have/take pride of place

if something takes pride of place, it is in the best position to be seen by a lot of people Bella's show-jumping trophies take pride of place in the display cabinet.
See also: have, of, place, pride

Pride comes before a fall.

  (British & Australian) also Pride goes before a fall. (American)
something that you say which means if you are too confident about yourself, something bad will happen to show you that you are not as good as you think you are Just because you did well in your exams doesn't mean you can stop working. Pride comes before a fall.
See swallow pride
See also: before, come, fall, pride

swallow your pride

to accept that you have to do something that you think is embarrassing or that you think you are too good to do Swallow your pride and call your daughter to tell her you're sorry.
See swallow the bait, one swallow doesn't make a summer
See also: pride, swallow

pride and joy

The object of one's great pleasure, as in Our new grandson is our pride and joy, or Dana's car is his pride and joy. This term was probably invented by Sir Walter Scott in his poem Rokeby (1813), where he described children as "a mother's pride, a father's joy."
See also: and, joy, pride

pride of place

The highest or most prominent position, as in His trophy had pride of place on the mantelpiece. [Early 1600s]
See also: of, place, pride

pride oneself on

Also, take pride in. Be proud of, take satisfaction in, as in We pride ourselves on always being punctual, or She took pride in her flower garden. The first term dates from the late 1300s, the second from the late 1500s.
See also: on, pride

swallow one's pride

Humble oneself, as in She decided to swallow her pride and apologize. This idiom employs swallow in the sense of "refrain from expressing," a usage dating from the early 1600s.
See also: pride, swallow

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Riordan-Irish
WillardWIL-ərdEnglish
Janne (1)YAHN-neFinnish, Swedish
Salomonsa-lo-MAWN (French)French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Aleks-Russian, Ukrainian, Slovene, Polish
Shipp[ʃip]