You're humblebragging when you want to gloat but pretend to be modest about it, or when you complain about something that most people want. The word and behavior are extremely prevalent on social media. For instance: Oh, my phone is so ancient! I'm ashamed to bring it on dates with supermodels and actors. But I love it anyway because it's a humblebrag. Humblebrags are used by people who want to feel special but don't know how to express themselves. They often get a bit carried away when telling stories about their accomplishments or possessions. For example: I bought my friend a car for her birthday. It was a really expensive one! I'd like to think we're friends for life because we went to college together. That wasn't very funny - especially since she just threw up in her mouth a little. Humblebrags can also be called out-of-context compliments or fake compliments. For example: Your photo looks great! You should be proud of yourself for getting such a beautiful picture taken. This isn't a humblebrag; it's a real compliment. Some people may call them bragging even though they're not actually saying they did something amazing. This is known as false modesty. For example: She claimed she wasn't smart enough to go to college but eventually ended up becoming a professor. There's no true humility in false modesty; it's more like arrogance without consequences.