flatter oneself

Believe wishful thinking

To flatter oneself is to believe something favorable about yourself that may not be true, or to take unwarranted credit: I flatter myself that I'm a good judge of character.

The phrase often carries ironic self-awareness—acknowledging that the belief might be wishful thinking.

Someone who flatters themselves holds an inflated view of their abilities or importance.

Related

ego · overstatement · narcissism · swagger · crow · compliment · misrepresentation · smoke and mirrors · cognitive bias · overestimate · gasconade · conceit · think highly of · too clever by half · exult · put on airs · wishful thinking · rose-colored glasses

Opposites
self-assessment accuracy

flatter oneselfface facts

Accept uncomfortable truths

self-regard

flatter oneselfbeat oneself up

humility vs. vanity

flatter oneselfstay grounded

Maintain mental equilibrium

Family

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Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G