Common phrases

I dabble.

“Dabble” is an informal word that means to do something lightly or not seriously. It’s often used when someone wants to suggest that they are not very skilled at something — even if that isn't completely true.

A

Do you cook?

B

Well, I dabble a bit.

You’re too kind.

You can use this short phrase after receiving a compliment. It has a slightly formal feeling and is sometimes used in a joking way.

A

You look great tonight.

B

You’re too kind.

I do OK. / I’m comfortable.

These phrases are common when someone wants to avoid speaking about money or salaries directly.

A

Do you make a lot of money at your new job?

B

I do OK.

It’s nothing (really).

This is a classic modest response to praise. However, you need to be careful; the other person may misunderstand and think you are saying that something was easy for you to do. Adding “really” helps this to sound more genuinely modest.

A

Your piano performance was very good.

B

Thank you, but it was nothing, really.

While these phrases are useful for taking some attention away from yourself, remember that your body language, expression and tone of voice also communicate to the people around you.

If you use these expressions without really meaning them, it may seem like false modesty, so be sure to use them carefully.

Related vocabulary

Modest

Don't forget that you can also use the adjective "modest" to describe people, spaces or things like fashion that are not flashy or attempt to attract attention.

Humble

"Humble" is an adjective meaning "not thinking too highly of one's own achievements, qualities, etc."

The noun version is "humility."

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.

C.S. Lewis (UK writer and scholar)

Down-to-earth / Grounded

Arrogant people and daydreamers may spend a lot of time believing or thinking about ideas that may not actually be true. People who are grounded or down-to-earth, however, think more practically and realistically.

Both of these terms are often used for people who are successful in some way but are still modest.

Play up/down

When you "play something up," you are trying to enhance its appeal or others’ interest in it. For example, companies want to play up their products to customers, and politicians want to play up themselves to voters.

The opposite of this expression is “play down.” It means to make something seem less important than it actually may be.

Like the example above, it can be used for modesty but also for information people want to keep secret.

Quotes on modesty

We’ll end this article on modesty by sharing a few related quotes from well-known and historical people. We hope you can find something useful or interesting among them.

"It’s far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help."

Judith Martin (US writer and etiquette expert)

"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."

Confucius (Chinese philosopher)

"Modesty should be typical of the success of a champion."

Major Taylor (US cyclist and writer)

"Let us be absolutely clear about one thing: we must not confuse humility with false modesty. …"

Paulo Coelho (Brazilian novelist)

"False modesty can be worse than arrogance."

David Mitchell (UK novelist and screenwriter)

"Modesty and unselfishness: these are the virtues which men praise — and pass by."

André Maurois (French author)