too big for one's breeches
Arrogant beyond station
Too big for one's breeches describes someone who has an inflated sense of their own importance or abilities—acting as if they've outgrown the limits appropriate to their position.
The phrase suggests a child who imagines himself grown up, or an underling who forgets their place: That new hire is getting too big for his breeches, giving orders to everyone.
Also *too big for one's boots*.
- getting ahead of oneselfPresuming outcomes prematurely
- too big for one's bootsOverestimating one's own importance
- hubrisRuinous excessive confidence
- full of oneselfExcessively self-admiring
- high and mightyImperiously self-important
conceit · egotism · big head · biting off more than one can chew · delusions of grandeur · ego trip · audacity · smugness · vanity · self-importance · pretentiousness · uppity · narcissism · overreach · swelled head · backlash · ridicule · reprimand
too big for one's breecheshumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · unassuming · self-effacing · meek · down-to-earth
too big for one's breechesdeferential
Showing humble submission
respectful · unassuming · proper · well-mannered · staying in one's lane