swagger Hear it!

swagger Definition

swag·ger (swagər)

intransitive verb

  1. to walk with a bold, arrogant, or lordly stride; strut
  2. to boast, brag, or show off in a loud, superior manner

Etymology: prob. < Norw dial. svagra, to sway in walking, freq. of svagga, to sway < IE base *swek-, to bend, turn

transitive verb

Rare to influence, force, etc. by blustering

noun

swaggering walk, manner, or behavior

swagger Related Forms

swag·gerer noun swag·ger·ingly adverb

swagger Synonyms

swagger

v.

  1. To strut

    parade, saunter, prance; see strut.

  2. To boast

    gloat, brag, show off; see boast 1. See syn. study at boast.

swagger Usage Examples

Object

  • arrogance: Like every Manc band worth their salt they also have their full quota of swaggering arrogance.
  • style: Osunlade doesn't disappoint as he regales the listener with his swaggering, slinky style.
  • monster: Sonic Reducer is a swaggering monster of a punk song.
  • rock: The quality of both the song and video are very impressive with Century Man doing swaggering, arrogant indie rock well.

Converse of object

  • have: They have a swagger, not too cocky, it's not a chip on the shoulder attitude thing, they just know.
  • get: United have got that famous swagger back in the last month.
  • see: The grand finale saw Razorlight swagger on to the stage of the Shepherds Bush Empire at 6.30pm on Saturday evening.

Preposition: around

stage: Apartment are more sure of themselves, swaggering confidently around stage.

Adjective modifier

  • cocky: Is it even really the same band that hijacked Britpop with a cocky Mancunian swagger ten years ago?
  • arrogant: He is tall and handsome, with an arrogant swagger as he whips his floppy hair across his brow.
  • confident: Super Ultra Masters - Eric Dowey Eric poses as well as his confident swagger on to the stage would suggest.
  • cocksure: Live, Scully entertain as much as they captivate, with their cocksure swagger, spitting out clever acurate lyrics that make you think.
  • macho: He walks shirtless with a macho swagger, yet underneath he is insecure.
  • stylish: Fresh new character design - Dante appears younger, but still has his stylish swagger and rock star good looks.

Modifies a noun

stick: Perhaps I am overlooking the swagger stick, which " accessory " was a debatable item of uniform for various services at various periods.

Modifying Another Word

  • back: Ten minutes later, he swaggered back into the study with the panache of the overlord in a classical samurai film.
  • about: As he well expected, he then came under a barrage of abuse, and was swaggering about, reveling in the attention.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: I love that even tho Johnny Borrell swaggers around like an autistic bouncer, his lyrics express a sensitivity at odds with his bravado.
  • off: After washing his paws he swaggered off into the bush.

Noun used with modifier

hip-swinging: Imagine Jarvis Cocker writing lyrics for Paul McCartney or putting dry observational wit in to Franz Ferdinand's hip-swinging swagger to make punk-funk fun.

Browse dictionary entries near swagger

  1. swage block
  2. swage
  3. swag
  4. swaddling clothes
  5. swaddle
  6. swacked
  7. Swabia
  8. swabber
  9. swabbed
  10. swab
  1. swagger stick
  2. swagman
  3. Swahili
  4. swain
  5. SWAK
  6. swale
  7. swallow
  8. swallow dive
  9. swallow-tailed
  10. swallow-tailed coat