a conceited ass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a conceited ass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is arrogant or self-important in a derogatory manner. Example: "He always brags about his achievements; he's such a conceited ass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Before AIDS, he said: "I must have been a conceited ass, full of knowledge.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ferrar "had spent more time playing sports in college than studying science," Larson says, and Scott called him "a conceited young ass".

The New York Times - Books

Far from a conceited gesture, he showed himself as one of the damned.

Independent

(Lizzy calls him, in a letter to her sister, a "conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man").

The New Yorker

Miller went on to describe Higgins as "a conceited, arrogant fop" and "a shallow idiot".

The New Yorker

Is a conceited fellow by his own admission, and likes to eat.

The New Yorker

When I spoke with LIN Es John Park and San Beak, I asked them what they thought of critics who say taking a selfie is a conceited or vain act.

TechCrunch

She's also a conceited asshole.

Vice

Don't write him off as a conceited jerk.

Huffington Post

He was a conceited, pale, peering creature from some shit hole near Chicago.

Vice

For years, it seemed otherwise; he came across as a conceited jerk and an egomaniac.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a conceited ass" to pointedly, but somewhat informally, criticize someone's arrogance and perceived stupidity. The phrase carries a strong negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "a conceited ass" in formal or professional contexts. It is considered impolite and could damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a conceited ass" functions as a descriptive insult, combining an adjective ("conceited") modifying a noun ("ass") to express strong disapproval of someone's character. As Ludwig highlights, it is used to describe someone who is arrogant or self-important in a derogatory manner.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a conceited ass" is a phrase used to describe someone who is perceived as arrogant and foolish. As indicated by Ludwig, this expression is grammatically correct but carries a strong negative and informal connotation. The examples found in news and media sources, according to Ludwig AI, suggest its use is primarily for expressing criticism and contempt. It is generally best to avoid this phrase in formal or professional settings, opting instead for more polite alternatives such as "an arrogant fool" or "a self-important jerk".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an arrogant fool

Replaces "conceited" with "arrogant" and "ass" with "fool", softening the insult slightly.

a self-important jerk

Substitutes "conceited" with "self-important" and "ass" with "jerk", maintaining a negative connotation.

a pompous idiot

Replaces both words to create a slightly different expression of foolishness and arrogance.

an egotistical simpleton

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe someone who is both self-centered and unintelligent.

a vain buffoon

Focuses on vanity rather than just conceit, while retaining the sense of foolishness.

a smug dolt

Highlights the smugness of a person who is also unintelligent.

a haughty nincompoop

Emphasizes the person's haughtiness and replaces "ass" with a less offensive term.

an overweening fool

Uses "overweening" to convey excessive confidence and replaces "ass" with the more common "fool".

a presumptuous blockhead

Highlights the person's tendency to presume and replaces "ass" with another term for a stupid person.

a supercilious twit

Focuses on the supercilious nature of the person, suggesting they look down on others.

FAQs

What does it mean to call someone "a conceited ass"?

Calling someone "a conceited ass" means you think they are arrogant, full of themselves, and foolish.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a conceited ass"?

The phrase "a conceited ass" is best used in informal settings among close friends, as it's considered rude in professional or polite contexts.

What can I say instead of "a conceited ass"?

You can use alternatives like "an arrogant fool", "a self-important jerk", or "a pompous idiot", depending on the level of formality and intensity you want to convey.

Is "a conceited ass" the same as "an arrogant person"?

While similar, "a conceited ass" implies not just arrogance but also foolishness or stupidity, adding an extra layer of insult compared to simply calling someone "an arrogant person".