History Main / BadassBoast

The character has got to be pretty {{badass}} to be able to make this kind of boast convincingly, though sometimes a [[BoisterousWeakling weaker character]] will bluff like this. It helps when they are obviously in a situation where they may be called on to demonstrate; if not, they may insist that they can show you at once, to [[UnderestimatingBadassery prevent]] their appearing a MilesGloriosus. The usual subversion is for something to promptly undercut [[MilesGloriosus the boaster's pretensions]]. The CombatPragmatist in particular is given to unceremoniously [[ShutUpHannibal cutting off boasters in the middle of their speech]] with a [[TalkToTheFist punch to the face]]. A LargeHam is particularly given to these.

Many characters like to boast about their achievements, but only a few can gasconade in style, rattling off a [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard string]] of [[TheMagnificent titles]] and battle honours that impresses allies and intimidates enemies in a way which makes them sound [[MagnificentBastard mythic]], [[SmallNameBigEgo not conceited]].

This dates back to [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]], making it OlderThanDirt. [[note]] And even the old word for it, [[OrlandoFurioso "Rodomontade"]], refers to a work almost OlderThanPrint. [[/note]]

The character has got to be pretty {{badass}} to be able to make this kind of boast convincingly, though sometimes a [[BoisterousWeakling weaker character]] will bluff like this. It helps when he is obviously in a situation where he may be called on to demonstrate; if not, he may insist that he can show you at once, to [[UnderestimatingBadassery prevent]] his appearing a MilesGloriosus. The usual subversion is for something to promptly undercut [[MilesGloriosus the boaster's pretensions]]. The CombatPragmatist in particular is given to unceremoniously [[ShutUpHannibal cutting off boasters in the middle of their speech]] with a [[TalkToTheFist punch to the face]]. A LargeHam is particularly given to these.

* Hero to Villain or vice versa -- ThrowingDownTheGauntlet. If a hero does this routinely, it's InTheNameOfTheMoon or a BadassCreed. A particularly arrogant Villain might make a Badass Boast part of his BreakingSpeech or his [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech "Reason the Hero Sucks" Speech]].

See also PreAsskickingOneLiner, IHaveManyNames, IAmTheNoun (which frequently is a component of these), and WorldOfCardboardSpeech. If your boast is really your oft repeated credo that explains who you are to yourself, then it is your BadassCreed. If the things you're boasting about are things that happened on-screen earlier in the story, the trope is RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun. A BadassBoast often happens either during or immediately before a SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome. May conclude with the observation that [[WhoWillBellTheCat some one person has to be the one to attack him first.]]

-->--'''Smaug the Golden''', ''Literature/TheHobbit''

This dates back to [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]], making it OlderThanDirt.

[[quoteright:330:[[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/badass-boast_watchmen-2_4357_1785.png]]]]

->"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death."
-->--'''Smaug The Golden''', ''Literature/TheHobbit''

%% Image chosen per Image Pickin' thread :http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=qi3gx5b3fnwjvyyl8vrt23es
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

->''"My armor is like tenfold shields. My teeth are like swords. My claws, spears. The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt. My wings, a hurricane. And my breath, death."''
-->--'''Smaug The Golden''', ''Film/TheHobbit''

%% Do not change the quote. It was chosen by a Trope Talk thread and crowner: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13895810840A75291600&page=1

%% If you want to change the quote, bring it up in the General Quotes thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100&page=1

->''"[[TheJuggernaut My armor is like tenfold shields]]. My teeth are like swords. My claws, spears. The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt. My wings, a hurricane. And my breath, death."''
-->--'''Smaug The Golden''', ''Film/{{The Hobbit}}''

->''"No power in the 'Verse can stop me."''
-->-- '''[[ActionGirl River]] [[SuperSoldier Tam]]''', ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

-->''We are the Ultramarines, the Sons of Guilliman. Whilst we draw breath, we stand. Whilst we stand, we fight. Whilst we fight, we prevail. Nothing shall stay our wrath.''
-->--'''[[FourStarBadass Marneus Calgar]]''', ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''

->''"[[TheJuggernaut My armor is like tenfold shields]]. My teeth are like swords. My claws, spears. The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt. My wings, a hurricane. And my breath, death."''
-->--'''Smaug The Golden''', ''Film/{{The Hobbit}}''

->''"[[TheJuggernaut My armor is like tenfold shields]]. My teeth are like swords. My claws, spears. The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt. My wings, a hurricane. And my breath, death"''

->''"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; [[RetiredBadass skills I have acquired over a long career]]. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you [[PapaWolf let my daughter go now]], that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I ''will'' [[{{Determinator}} look for you]], I ''will'' [[ImplacableMan find you]], '''[[IllKillYou and I will kill you]].'''"''
-->--'''Bryan Mills''', ''Film/{{Taken}}''

->''"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, '''and I will kill you.'''"''

->''"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. [[PerpetualPoverty If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money.]] [[RenaissanceMan But what I do have are a very particular set of skills;]] [[RetiredBadass skills I have acquired over a very long career.]] [[TheDreaded Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.]] [[PapaWolf If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it.]] I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, [[PrivateDetective I will look for you,]] I will find you, '''[[IllKillYou and I will kill you.]]'''"''
-->--'''[[LiamNeeson Bryan Mills]]''', ''Film/{{Taken}}''

[[caption-width-right:330: Sometimes your choice of words make all the difference.]]

->''"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. [[PerpetualPoverty If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money.]] [[RenaissanceMan But what I do have are a very particular set of skills;]] [[RetiredBadass skills I have acquired over a very long career.]] [[TheDreaded Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.]] [[PapaWolf If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it.]] I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, [[PrivateDetective I will look for you,]] [[IWillFindYou I will find you,]] '''[[IllKillYou and I will kill you.]]'''"''

->''"I am [=YuLaw=]! [[PrisonRape I am nobody's bitch]]!'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou You]] ''are'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou mine]]''! I don't need to know you. You only need to know me. [[ThereCanOnlyBeOne I will be]] [[TitleDrop The One]]!"''
-->-- '''[[BigBad Gabriel YuLaw]]''' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws8JocOpkvY just before]] [[OneManArmy unleashing a can of whoopass]], ''Film/TheOne''

->''"I am [=YuLaw=]! [[PrisonRape I am nobody's bitch]]!'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou You]] ''are'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou mine]]''! I don't need to know you. You only need to know me. [[[ThereCanOnlyBeOne I will be]] [[TitleDrop The One]]!"''

->''"I am [=YuLaw=]! [[PrisonRape I am nobody's bitch]]!'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou You]] ''are'' [[InSovietRussiaTropeMocksYou mine]]''! I don't need to know you. You only need to know me. I will be [[TitleDrop The One]]!"''

->''"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. [[PerpetualPoverty If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money.]] [[RenaissanceMan But what I do have are a very particular set of skills;]] [[RetiredBadass skills I have acquired over a very long career.]] [[TheDreaded Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.]] [[PapaWolf If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it.]] I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, [[PrivateDetective I will look for you,]] [[IWillFindYou I will find you,]] '''[[IllKillYou and I will kill you.]]'''"''
-->--'''[[LiamNeeson Bryan Mills]]''', ''Film/{{Taken}}''