ego

alter ego

1. Another name or identity that one assumes. He's a clean-cut accountant during the week, but on the weekend he indulges in hedonistic pursuits as his alter ego "Jack."
2. A separate or different aspect or element of one's personality, identity, or psyche. For such a quiet woman, she has a rage and temper at times that is like some alter ego.
3. A close, inseparable friend of very similar attitudes and interests. My girlfriend and I are so similar, we are like each other's alter ego.
4. A person who acts as a substitute for or copy of another person; a doppelgänger. Due to his increasingly failing health, the dictator's son has been running the country for the past month, essentially as his alter ego.
See also: alter, ego

bruise (one's) ego

To wound one's pride. I just worry that if she finds out she didn't get that promotion, it will really bruise her ego. Yeah, getting rejected by that beautiful woman bruised my ego a bit, but I'm no worse for wear. Let's order another round, fellas!
See also: bruise, ego

ego trip

A display of superiority and self-centeredness. Are you on an ego trip? I'm not one of your lowly interns, so you can get your own coffee! The boss must have been on a real ego trip when he decided to name the building after himself.
See also: ego, trip

ego-tripper

Someone who is apt to act in a superior and self-centered manner. Don't get coffee for that ego-tripper—you're not one of his lowly interns. The boss must be a real ego tripper—I mean, he named a building after himself!

stroke (one's) ego

To appeal to one's pride or vanity. You're not going to get what you want by stroking the boss's ego. If anything, that's a good way to get in trouble with her! I couldn't resist stroking my ego a bit by reading some of the good reviews for my latest film.
See also: ego, stroke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

stroke someone's ego

Fig. to flatter and praise someone. If you have trouble with him, just take a few minutes and stroke his ego. You'll soon have him eating out of your hand.
See also: ego, stroke
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

ego trip

Behavior or activities undertaken mainly out of vanity or for self-gratification. For example, She's really on an ego trip, trying out for the lead. [1960s]
See also: ego, trip
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ego trip

n. a public expression of one’s feelings of importance or superiority. The guy is on another ego trip. Pay no attention.
See also: ego, trip

ego tripper

n. a person who habitually goes on an ego trip. Not another ego tripper running for public office!
See also: ego, tripper
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

ego trip

A display of self-importance, a vehicle for self-satisfaction: for example, “These annual art shows of hers are simply an ego trip; she has no talent whatsoever.” This pejorative term dates from the second half of the 1900s. It brands someone as an egotist, which Ambrose Bierce defined as “A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me” (The Devil’s Dictionary, 1911).
See also: ego, trip
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • alter ego
  • gender bender
  • gender-bender
  • clean-cut
  • lotus eater
  • give it large
  • large it
  • have it large
  • riotous living
  • mislead about
References in periodicals archive
Here are caricatured examples of some of the ideas (beliefs) which the individual invests their identity in, to create an ego in the process.
Ego: The Enemy Of Good Leadership
The characters featured in his debut novel, The Outlandish and the Ego, are vibrant creations from a true genius.
Author O. Ryan Hussain Partners with BookBuzz.net to Promote His Dark Humor/Satire Novel - The Outlandish and the Ego
"Quiet ego" functioning: The complementary roles of mindfulness, authenticity, and secure high self-esteem.
Leading Without Ego
The Toby Carvery will serve its last meals this weekend before the restaurant is transformed into an Ego Mediterranean.
This is what to expect when the new Ego restaurant opens in Nuneaton; It should be open by mid-October
Nuneaton will be the latest in the Ego family as the firm has recently completed the transformation of The Fox in Haslington.
Mediterranean restaurant to open in town
It is said that low level of ego integrity, high level of psychological problems and physical health related problems increase fear of death among elderly people (John, Binoy, Reddy, Passyavula, and Reddy, 2016).
Ego Integrity, Physical Health Status and Death Anxiety in Older Adults
The current study sought to reduce Barron's (1953) Es scale to a more manageable length and include items that appear to best tap the construct of ego strength among college students.
A SHORTER SHORT VERSION OF BARRON'S EGO STRENGTH SCALE
An ego-centered individual will always be assessing and reassessing how he or she is coming off or appearing to others because they are out to protect their ego. With a dead ego, you can be free to be yourself, plan the goals that truly make you feel fulfilled, laugh at yourself and ignore mean spirited comments of people.
How killing your ego makes you happier
To compensate and deal with all these issues, the ego will push you to focus wholly on yourself, leading to an unhealthy self-obsession.
Take a moment to reflect on how to overcome the all-powerful ego
Ego Depletion and Psychological Distance in Construal-Level Theory
The role of ego depletion in goal pursuit: a construal-level perspective
Therefore, we aimed to identify ego modules and pathways in OS by integrating EgoNet algorithm and pathway enrichment analysis.
Investigating ego modules and pathways in osteosarcoma by integrating the EgoNet algorithm and pathway analysis
We're still a few months away from the release of "(http://www.ibtimes.com/guardians-galaxy-vol-2-trailer-released-5-major-questions-we-have-after-watching-2434097) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 " but we now have our first look at Kurt Russell's character, Ego.
'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2's' Ego Doesn't Look Much Like A Planet
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, your worst enemy already lives inside of you: your ego.
Consider the immensity: how to keep your ego from getting the best of you