If you’ve ever dealt with someone who’s full of themselves, you’ll know how infuriating it can be. Chances are, you find yourself having to bite your tongue a lot, especially if the person’s your boss or someone in authority. If you’ve just started a new friendship or relationship and the person expresses any of these 11 phrases, watch out ’cause they have an ego problem and you don’t want to have to deal with it.
1. “I Would’ve Done It Better.”
Someone who’s got an ego problem has an inflated sense of self and what they can achieve. They always think that they can do better, so they’ll write off what other people have done and try to move forward with their ideas. Yikes. It’s a nightmare having to deal with them on a daily basis.
2. “But I Know That.”
If you’re trying to tell someone that they made a mistake or did something to upset you and they cut you off with, “But I know that,” they clearly don’t want to take any responsibility for their actions. Why would they? They always think they’re right. And, claiming to know something they clearly don’t know is classic “big ego at play.”
3. Want a partner? Attract love with the power of your mind.
Sweetn is a new research-based startup that shows you how to call love into your life with the power of your mind. Take our quiz, and try our tools—they can transform your energy and your love life in a few weeks. Just click here.
4. “I Hate To Brag, But…”
Someone with an ego problem can come across as braggy. They’ll always find a way to blow their own horn, even if they do this with a sneaky humble brag. So, the person might say, “I hate to brag, but I’m going on holiday while you’re at work” or “I hate to brag, but I could do a better job than that.” Yikes.
5. “People Say I’m The Best At…”
When getting to know someone, they might tell you about their good traits. Nothing wrong with this, but someone with an ego problem will keep telling you about what they’re good at, such as by saying, “People say I’m the best at planing” or “People say I’m the best at hiking.” By claiming that others say this good stuff about them, it gives more weight to their words. Or so they think.
6. “Not My Fault.”
We’ve already said that people with huge egos aren’t likely going to take responsibility for things they do. But, they also might try to place the blame on everyone else around them. So, they’ll tell you it wasn’t their fault they got fired but their terrible boss’s fault. This can become toxic, like if a BF says, “It’s not my fault that I cheated – you pushed me to do it.” Eek!
7. “That’s Ridiculous.”
Whether you’re working with or dating someone with a big ego, you’re going to deal with someone who’s quick to shut down other people’s solutions or ideas, both big and small. Don’t be surprised when someone with an ego will say, “That’s ridiculous!” and makes you feel small.
8. “Are They Really Good?”
Have you noticed that when you speak to someone with a big ego problem they’re quick to shut down other people’s success? It’s so arrogant. They might say, “Oh, is Marisa really that good at tennis?” Um, yeah, because she just won an award? Or, they’ll say, “But is Matty really that good at business?” Um, even though he’s running a successful company? They just want to derail everyone else’s success.
9. “I’ll Do It.”
Someone with a huge ego thinks they’re better than others, so it’s no surprise that they’ll want to do everything themselves. They only trust themselves, which is sad because they don’t give other people a chance to impress or please them. As a romantic partner, an egotistical person will say that they’re going to do the dishes/walk the dog/plan your next holiday, almost as though they don’t think you can do it as well as them. Ridiculous.
10. “You Don’t Get It.”
Since egotistical people always think they’re right and that they’re clued in to the best way of doing things, if you chat to them about a problem or confront them about something, they might say something like, “You don’t get it” even if you don’t express confusion. Or, they might punt their way of doing things, essentially taking the lead of the situation. As per usual! Not only does this make you feel like they’re totally ignoring your feelings, but it also makes you feel stupid. Ugh.
11. “Are You Serious?”
Buckle up, because giving someone with an ego problem some constructive feedback isn’t easy. They might explode, asking if you’re serious or if you’re crazy. They’re quick to criticize you because they think so highly of themselves, so they don’t want to be dragged off their gold pedestal. How are you supposed to communicate with them when they’re so defensive?
12. “Did You Hear About…”
Someone with a big ego loves being the center of attention and criticizing others, so it’s no surprise that they’re drawn to all the juiciest gossip and will want to share it with you for a good laugh. Bringing other people down helps them feel better about themselves. Just be careful that they’re not gossiping about you behind your back.
