Are You a 'Prima Donna'? English for People with Too Much Pride
We’ve already taken a look at phrases and quotes related to modesty. This time, we’ll focus on the opposite personality trait: having too much pride.
Just like modesty, there is more than one way to talk about pride. However, each of the expressions introduced below are very common in daily conversations, so we encourage you to learn them all!
Arrogant
A basic antonym of modest is “arrogant,” which means behaving in a way that shows you think you are better, smarter, etc. than other people.
- He’s always been arrogant, even before he became the CEO.
The noun version is “arrogance.”
- Her arrogance makes it difficult for her to make friends.
Stuck up
This refers to someone whose nose is raised, or “stuck up,” in the air as a sign that they are better than others.
- Maria is the prettiest girl in school, but she’s never been stuck up about it.
Snooty
This informal word is also related to noses. This time, it comes from “snout,” which is the nose and mouth on many kinds of animals.
- The staff at that restaurant is very snooty. If you aren’t wearing expensive clothes, they will give you poor service.
Conceited
"Conceited" sounds slightly more formal than many of the other expressions on this list, but it can still be used in a variety of situations.
- He has a reputation for being conceited and difficult to work with.
Egotistical
A person’s ego is their opinion of themself. If their ego is too large, we say they are “egotistical.”
- Even though they are famous, they are some of the least egotistical people I’ve ever met.
Full of one’s self
For this expression, imagine someone’s mind being full of thoughts about themself rather than thoughts about others.
- Although Tony is a brilliant engineer, he’s unfortunately very full of himself.
Have a big head
People who are overconfident are often described as being somehow bigger than normal. This time, the bigness is focused on the head.
- Jamie has a big head about her team's award, but she didn't do all the work alone.
Vain
"Vain" is the adjective form of the noun "vanity." You can hear it in a famous song from 1972 by the American musician Carly Simon.
You're so vain
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?
Narcissistic
A “narcissist” is someone who has an unhealthy belief in their own importance, appearance or abilities.
This word comes from a character in Greek mythology named Narcissus. Narcissus was a handsome but cruel young man who died tragically after falling in love with his own reflection in a pool.
- I can’t stand narcissists who always talk about how great they are.
The adjective form is “narcissistic.”
- That's a very narcissistic way of thinking. You should consider others' feelings as well as your own.
Prima donna
"Prima donna" is an Italian term meaning "first lady." It originally referred to the most important female singer in an opera.
These days, however, it's a name for people who act as if they are extremely important. Prima donnas can become angry quickly if they don’t get their way. Because of its roots, it is often used to describe artists and other creative people.
- People say she's a prima donna, but she has always been very nice to me.
Diva
“Diva” is another name for a prima donna. Although both terms originally referred to talented women, either can be used now to talk about people of any gender.
Like prima donnas, divas can be very difficult to make happy.
- Everyone was satisfied with the hotel rooms except Stan; he acted like a diva and wanted something fancier.
This word isn't always negative; it can simply refer to famous female pop stars such as Beyoncé or Madonna. You'll need to listen closely to the context to understand when it is being used to criticize someone.
Wrap-up
With so many arrogant people in the world, it's no surprise that there are so many different words to describe them! However, since these words refer to negative personality traits, be careful how and when you use them, especially in formal situations.
If you'd like to learn words for people with the opposite personality type, we recommend you read our article on modesty: "It's Nothing, Really." Modesty in English (Phrases and Quotes)
