false modesty en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) Behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering.
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.
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC: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.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| false modesties | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (11)
de falsche Bescheidenheit (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · ru ложная скромность (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · ca falsa modèstia (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · hu álszerénység (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · it falsa modestia (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · fr fausse modestie (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · pt falsa modéstia (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · nl valse bescheidenheid (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · fi teennäinen vaatimattomuus (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · cmn 故作謙虛 /故作谦虚 (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering) · pl fałszywa skromność (behavior that is intended to seem humble but comes across as fake and unflattering)