COMMON If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people good things about yourself. The three candidates exchanged insults and blew their own trumpets yesterday as each one claimed to be heading for victory. The actress has few equals when it comes to blowing her own trumpet. `You either have it or you don't,' she says. Note: You can say I'm not blowing my own trumpet when you are saying something good about yourself but do not want other people to think you are boasting. I am not blowing my own trumpet but I work a lot quicker than most people. Note: In the past, the arrival of important people in a place was announced by the playing of trumpets. Note: The usual American expression is blow your own horn.