who is pompous tries to sound important, especially by using very long or formal words: The headteacher gave a pompous speech about 'the values of learning'.
look down on sb Juk daon on (sb)|| -am- [phrasal verb T]'if you look down on other people, you think you are better or more important than them: He looks
down on anyone who hasn't had a college education
ш to talk too proudly about yourself
boast /boost [v I/T] to talk too proudly about your achievements or possessions, because you want people to admire you:
7 can do better than any of them,' she boasted.
+ about He's always boasting about how many girlfriends he's had. + that She liked to boast that she could speak six languages fluently.
show off ;'J90 of||-Dif / [phrasal verb I] to keep doing things and saying things to show people how clever you are, how brave or strong you are etc. and make them admire you: Ben was at the pool, showing off to the girls. I "I can say it in French, Spanish, Japanese, and Greek." "Oh, stop showing off!" show-off J90 Df||o:f/ [n C] someone who is always doing or saying things to make people admire them: Don't be such a show-off!
Q a feeling of respect for yourself
self-respect self ri spekt [n U] a feeling of respect and confidence in yourself and in your abilities: It is difficult to keep your self respect when you have been
unemployed for a long time. I Serious illness often results in a loss of confidence and self-respect.
dignity 'dign^ti/ |n U) the ability to behave in a calm way that shows that you respect yourself, even in difficult situations do sth with dignity Very sick people should be allowed to die with dignity, lose your dignity She lost her home and all her money, but she never lost her dignity.
pride /prajd/ (л U) the feeling that you deserve to be respected by other people - use this especially when someone finds it difficult to admit they need help or that they are wrong. He has too much pride to say he's sorry. I Her pride would not allow her to ask for help, hurt sb's pride Don't offer her money - you'll hurt her pride.
PROUD
dignified /'dign^faid/ [adj] behaving in a calm way, even in a difficult situation, that makes other people respect and admire you: She was a quiet, dignified old lady. I Jo listened to their criticisms in dignified silence.
ISi when someone does not talk proudly about themselves
modest 'mcd^stl'ma:-/ [аф] someone who is modest never talks proudly about their abilities and achievements; Fame didn't affect him - he remained a charming and modest man. I She was too modest to tell you that she got top marks in the test. modestly [adu] "It was really brave of you." "Oh, it u>as nothing," he replied modestly.
A
People or things can prove something, but only things can show something.
modesty /'mDdi,sti|'ma:- [n U] a modest way of talking or behaving: 7 couldn't have done it without the rest of the team,' he said, with typical modesty.
PROVE
to show that something is true or
correct
^ see also court /trial, true/not true
II to prove something
prove /pru:v/ [и T] to show that something
is definitely true, by providing facts or information
+ (that) Can you prove that you were at home at the time of the attack? I He wanted to prove that he was just as clever as his sister.
prove sb wrong/iiuiocent/guilty I would love to prove him wrong, prove sth to sb I'm telling the truth, and I can prove it to you.
proving - proved - have proved
have proven i • < ia, •. v am; rkan )
show /Jao/ (u TJ if facts or actions show that something is true, they prove that it is true. The Prime Minister's comments show his ignorance of people's feelings. + (that) Her record shows that Graf is one of the best players of all time. show how/what These figures show how serious the company's problems are.
592
showing - showed - have shown
demonstrate /'demonstreit [u T] to do
something or provide information which makes it very clear to people that something is true: The studies demonstrate a clear link between smoking and heart disease,
+ that The President is anxious to demonstrate that he has a strong foreign policy.
! ZlA Demonstrate is more formal than show-
\ - —— -—■■■-—■—
con/irm k.in'tVm [l> T] if a piece of new information confirms an idea or belief that people already have, it shows that it is definitely true: Police have found new evidence that confirms his story. + that The discovery seems to confirm that people lived here over 10.000 years ago.
В to prove that something is not true
disprove .-'dis'pruiv [v T] to prove that something is wrong or not true: She u.'as able to produce figures that disproved Smith's argument.
disproving - disproved - have disproved 'o\ ч. have disprove n i ■ : м
Ei the information that proves something
pro of pruit |n U] information or facts that prove that something is true: He was the only person in the room when the money disappeared - what more proof do you want? I The police knew she was gvilty, but they had no proof. + of You can't drink in bars without some proof of your age. + that There is no proof that he did it.
/К Don't say 'proofs' or 'a proof', just say proof-
evidence /'evi>d<?ns [n ui information that helps to prove whether something is true or not: The police did not have enough evidence to charge anybody with the murder.
+ that There is some evidence that a small amount of alcohol is good for you. + of/for evidence of life on other planets
medical/scientific evidence There is no scientific evidence to support this theory.
/!\ Don't say 'an evidence'. Saya piece of j I evidence - !
PROVIDE
to make something available for someone who needs it or wants it
see also cive, money 8
provide pra'vaid, [i> TI if a person or organization provides something, they make it available for someone who needs it or wants it: They deal with general inquiries,