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Is there a word, preferably pejorative, describing someone who take too much pride in something mediocre?

The reason I'm searching for this word is a good friend of mine constantly dwells on some small achievements, like he'd brag about how he could eat 5 burgers in 5 minutes or how he jogs to work everyday even though it only takes 10 minutes of walking to everyone we meet at the bar. So next time I see him doing that, I want to call him "Stop being (a/an) ____!"

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    I found this in Merriam Webster while looking for synonyms of "braggart"... Dig this: "Cockalorum". I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be insulted if you called them 'a cockalorum'.
    – Oldbag
    Jun 4, 2015 at 22:58
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    H. D. F. Kitto quotes Theophrastus in The Greeks as calling this person "the Petty Proud man". That name is not going to be understood by most people today, but I thought it might give some background.
    – Robusto
    Jun 5, 2015 at 10:58
  • @Oldbag sure they'd be offended but mostly because they wouldn't know what you've just called them.
    – Mitch
    Jun 5, 2015 at 13:41
  • To be fair, a burger a minute for five minutes straight does sound like something I, at least, couldn't manage.
    – Kyle Strand
    Jun 6, 2015 at 20:21

5 Answers 5

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vainglory, particularly the "inordinate" part of this definition, seems to fit:

Inordinate pride in oneself or one’s achievements

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/vainglory

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  • "Oh, stop being vainglorious." Good one.
    – stevesliva
    Jun 5, 2015 at 20:45
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How about Boaster

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Boaster

Bragger seems to fit too And please do tell us about their response :)

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If you need a noun, then words like show-off or braggart may suffice. If you need an adjective, smug may help.

Smug

Exhibiting or feeling great or offensive satisfaction with oneself or with one's situation; self-righteously complacent: a smug look; a smug critic.

Ref: Free Dictionary.

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This reminds me of the Dunning-Kruger effect, in that your friend has an undo sense of accomplishment.

To imply anyone who is proud of their accomplishments is actually exhibiting the D-K effect is to imply that it would be difficult to be less accomplished. They're so unaccomplished that they don't even know what accomplishment is.

Telling him he's being Dunning-Kruger would be a big insult. But it may well go over his head.

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I suggest "self-satisfied" (excessively satisfied with oneself or one's achievements).

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  • This doesn't express pride in mediocrity. It might (or might not) reflect a mediocre person being proud, but not necessarily proud of being mediocre.
    – Drew
    Jun 5, 2015 at 17:49

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