Meaning
Act in a boastful, self-promoting manner.
Origin
The term in its present form is 19th century. Anthony Trollope, in his work Australia and new Zealand, 1873 observed:
"In the colonies..when a gentleman be getting rossy"
That is clearly commenting on what must already have been a well-known phrase, although there aren't known printed citations to support that from before 1873. The use of 'getting' is interesting too, as that matches the current US use as a slang term to describe anything bad or worthless.
Much earlier, there is an example of what appears to be the same meaning as blowing your own trumpet, from Miles Coverdale's The second tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the Newe Testament, 1549:
"Let them never so muche with their blasyng wordes boaste themselves."
Blasing is no longer used in that context, but in the 16th century is thought to have meant boastful.
The King James Version of the Bible, 1611 also includes a warning against boastfully 'getting rossy', although not in those precise words:
6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not get a rossy before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Anyone will tell you he's one of the best businessmen we've got, although he'd never be seen getting rossy.
Act in a boastful, self-promoting manner.
Origin
The term in its present form is 19th century. Anthony Trollope, in his work Australia and new Zealand, 1873 observed:
"In the colonies..when a gentleman be getting rossy"
That is clearly commenting on what must already have been a well-known phrase, although there aren't known printed citations to support that from before 1873. The use of 'getting' is interesting too, as that matches the current US use as a slang term to describe anything bad or worthless.
Much earlier, there is an example of what appears to be the same meaning as blowing your own trumpet, from Miles Coverdale's The second tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the Newe Testament, 1549:
"Let them never so muche with their blasyng wordes boaste themselves."
Blasing is no longer used in that context, but in the 16th century is thought to have meant boastful.
The King James Version of the Bible, 1611 also includes a warning against boastfully 'getting rossy', although not in those precise words:
6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not get a rossy before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Anyone will tell you he's one of the best businessmen we've got, although he'd never be seen getting rossy.
Anyone will tell you he's one of the best businessmen we've got, although he'd never be seen getting rossy.
by Stephen M. Ross May 30, 2008
Get the Getting Rossy mug.Dan: "hey nate have you talked to kyle lately?"
Nate: "no i don't talk to her anymore dude."
Dan: "OH, "gets pissed"!"
Nate: "no i don't talk to her anymore dude."
Dan: "OH, "gets pissed"!"
by woodarnold September 27, 2008
Get the "gets pissed" mug.by Swedish fish 76544 January 25, 2018
Get the getting red mug.by lemonsdoski September 21, 2017
Get the get rock mug.Derivative of oft. used "Get a room" (often uttered to couples passionately going at it in full view of the general public). Used in the context "get a broom (and clean up that mess!)", often said to a friend or passer by, when a shambles or a man/woman is in view. A mess of course, is a commonly used term for somebody whose life is in disrepear, or those who have consumed far too many noxious substances, perhaps over a long period of time.
Matt stumbled into the room with a 'J' in one hand, and a Special brew in the other, spouting on about how good fightstar really are. "Get-a-broom!", I exclaimed to my pals next to me, nodding my head in Matt's general direction.
by Dan Daman July 21, 2008
Get the Get-a-broom mug.A declarative phrase told to someone. The phrase directs them to drink excessively and in turn become excessively belligerent.
by petemcgete April 18, 2009
Get the Get Belig mug.1.(v)-popularized by the singer Beyonce, it literally means "getting killed on the dance floor", or, in layman's terms, having been dancing with a partner and being so exhausted by mini-battling your partner, you collapse after getting to your car/bus.
by brandon marks April 11, 2007
Get the getting bodied mug.