What does swagger mean?
Word: Swagger
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Swagger means to walk or behave in a very proud and confident way that shows you think you are important. As a noun, a swagger is that kind of walk or manner.
Synonyms: strut
Word origin: Probably formed from swag, an old word meaning 'to sway', with the ending -er; the earliest known uses are from the 1590s.
How do you spell swagger?
Syllables: swag - ger
Tricky part: The g is doubled, as in stagger and dagger; with a single g the word would look as if it rhymed with wager.
Watch out for: swager, swaggr, swagerr
Memory tip: Picture a peacock swaggering with two long tail feathers trailing behind: the two feathers are the two g's.
Swagger in a sentence
Example 1: The rooster swaggered across the yard as if he owned the whole farm.
Example 2: After scoring a century, Kabir walked back to the pavilion with a bit of a swagger.
Example 3: There is no need to swagger; a quiet smile shows confidence too.
Fun Fact
One of the earliest known uses of swagger is in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, where the fairy Puck spots a group of workmen 'swaggering' in the wood.
Practise the CREST Way
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
gearwgs 1234567
a) 7531624
b) 1753426
c) 7153462
d) 7514236
Show answer
a) 7531624. In the order 7, 5, 3, 1, 6, 2, 4 the letters spell s-w-a-g-g-e-r.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. swagger 2. stroll 3. tiptoe a. to walk in a proud, showy way b. to walk quietly on the front part of your feet c. to walk slowly for pleasure
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. All three are ways of walking: swaggering shows off, strolling is relaxed and tiptoeing is quiet.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
The new captain swaggered onto the feild as if he had already won the tournamant.
a) only feild
b) only tournamant
c) feild and tournamant
d) swaggered and feild
Show answer
c) feild and tournamant. Field puts i before e, and tournament ends in -ment; swaggered is spelt correctly.
Spell Probe
Fill the blanks with 'a' and 'e'. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
1. sw__gg__r 2. gl__mm__r 3. s__mm__n 4. sh__dd__r
a) to shine with a faint, unsteady light
b) to walk or behave in a proud, showy way
c) to order someone to come to you
d) to shake suddenly, for example with cold
Show answer
b) to walk or behave in a proud, showy way. With a and e, only sw__gg__r becomes a real word: swagger. Shudder, glimmer and summon need other vowels.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Someone who walks with a swagger looks ___.
a) lost and confused
b) shy and nervous
c) tired and sleepy
d) very pleased with themselves
Show answer
d) very pleased with themselves
2. In which sentence is swagger used as a noun?
a) They swagger into class late.
b) She swaggered past the gate.
c) Don't swagger about your marks.
d) Her swagger amused the whole team.
Show answer
d) Her swagger amused the whole team.
