Idiom Usage:
This idiom can have a negative or positive aspect. Like all bragging or boasting, it depends on the situation and delivery as to the feeling of
tooting one's own whistle.
In Idiom Scenario 1, the feeling is positive since Johnny has done such a good job for a teenager.
In Idiom Scenario 2, Gary is a bit of a braggart and so the feeling is somewhat negative.
This idiom is often used with
not to "toot your own whistle"
but ... In this form, the feeling can be more positive.
This idiom has the following variations. They all have the same meaning:
- to toot your own horn
- to blow your own horn
- to blow your own trumpet
- to beat your own drum
- to bang your own drum