ProverbMoralityEnglish origin

Brag's a good dog, but that he hath lost his tail.

Meaning: Boasting loses you the respect that makes bragging worthwhile in the first place.

Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
  • Flâner To wander a city slowly and aimlessly, savouring it with no destination in mind — the art…
  • Retrouvailles The joy of reuniting with someone after a long time apart.

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →