Is Trump's well-known shtick "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody.." a conceit as I have heard commentators say in the media?

Is Trump’s well-known shtick “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody…” a conceit as I have heard commentators in the media describe it? The word ‘conceit’ has such a fluid meaning these days. I certainly haven’t come across Trump’s line being described that way in anything I’ve read online.

“Conceit” can refer to an idea or concept, so I don’t know that I could argue that it’s technically incorrect. But I’m doubtful that if I were a television pundit, I would choose that word in this context.

How would you describe Trump’s line? Which figurative descriptor would fit?

I think i would probably just go with “his claim that he could . . .” Or something similar.

‘The shameful and disturbing statement of Trump’s view of the ethics of his fan/political base.’

“Conceit” in the meaning of “a flight of fancy” may be a bit old-fashioned now, but even if one’s mind leaps to the meaning of “vanity” or “self-satisfaction”, in this case wouldn’t be far wrong.

Sounds right to me. But that’s a low and oddly shaped bar to pass.

Thanks Patrick London. That helps a lot.

So this may be, like irony, something that has different meaning in literature or drama, than usual usage, but I thought conceit was a metaphor or simile that deliberately compares two things that are NOT similar (e.g. “Fit as fiddle”, “bone of contention”)

I believe I used the word to describe Beckdawreck’s signature “bad, bad, bad” - I think that’s a good example of what it means. I think it more-or-less fits this example of Trump’s schtick too. But it doesn’t carry any negative connotation, just one of whimsy. So in Trump’s case I might be inclined to qualify it in negative terms, “outrageous conceit” or something.

I think a metaphor/simile like this is a subset of things that could be called a conceit. But the defining characteristic is just being fanciful, whimsical, elaborate.

The best descriptor is “unfortunately true.”

So, I posted earlier that I didn’t think “conceit” would be the word I’d use. Just for an off-the-cuff reply, I was ready to say that much but hadn’t thought it through and wasn’t ready to explain my, uh, “discomfort” with using the word in this context.

Now, reading the thread, I think I know why. I’m not prepared to assume that Trump himself would consider it a fanciful idea.

Trump’s phrasing as far as I can tell has taken on a life of its own. Does calling it a conceit necessarily have to rest with the originator(whether he considered it a fanciful idea or not) if the phrase itself is treated like a fanciful metaphor beyond its originator ?

That Trump might be able to load and figure out how to shoot a gun is quite fanciful.

Since this is back, I’m surprised no one gave the first definition in the dictionary.

dictionary .com

an excessively favorable opinion of one’s own ability, importance, wit, etc.

IOW, conceit is the perfect word to describe this seriously.

Even bad publicity is good when they spell your name correctly.
:face_with_diagonal_mouth:

Thanks Expand_Mapcase. Brilliant!

Personally, I don’t think “conceit” is the proper word.

I think Trump believes it. It’s not whimsy, or a flight of fancy, or anything else.

When Trump says anything about his authority, I think he is stating his true beliefs.

A new spelling! Haven’t seen that before.

How is that not exactly the definition I cited?