too big for your boots

too big for (one's) boots

Overconfident in one's importance, skill, or authority; behaving as if one is more important or influential than one actually is. He's gotten too big for his boots ever since he got that promotion. John's been too big for his boots now that he's been scouted by pro teams.
See also: big, boot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

too big for your boots

BRITISH, INFORMAL or

too big for your britches

mainly AUSTRALIAN, INFORMAL
If someone is too big for their boots, they behave as if they are more important or clever than they really are. Note: In the second expression, `britches' is also spelled `breeches'. I was often accused of being too big for my boots. If you ask me, he's too big for his britches since he struck it rich. Note: You can also say that someone gets too big for their boots or gets too big for their britches. In Britain, people seem to have a thing about not letting someone get too big for their boots. Getting too big for their britches, kids these days. Think the whole universe should revolve round them. Note: Britches are trousers which reach as far as your knees.
See also: big, boot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

too big for your boots

conceited. informal
See also: big, boot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

too ˌbig for your ˈboots

(informal) thinking that you are more important than you really are: His political rivals had decided that he was getting too big for his boots.
See also: big, boot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • britches
  • get too big for (one's) britches
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
References in periodicals archive
A Too Big for Your Britches B Big Shoes C Too Big for Your Boots D Boots Don't Fit 5.
After three or four years of frustration, you never get too big for your boots."
Too big for your boots," the Daily Star quoted the singer, as writing on Facebook.
Bob Paisley, his Anfield assistant and successor, took the call and said: "They want to know what size you take." Shanks replied: "If it's gold, I'm a 28." So boys, it's time to get too big for your boots! CONTENTION: Torres
Now if there's one area of life in which you don't want to get too big for your boots, surely it is professional football.
Never get too big for your boots because Him Upstairs has bigger boots than anybody and he doesn't like people who get too big for their boots.