# 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? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 1, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705 "2022-09-01T03:20:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/1 "2022-09-01T03:20:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/2 "2022-09-01T03:33:22Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/3 "2022-09-01T03:41:31Z")
How would you describe Trump’s line? Which figurative descriptor would fit? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/4 "2022-09-01T03:45:06Z")
I think i would probably just go with “his claim that he could . . .” Or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/5 "2022-09-01T04:07:19Z")
‘The shameful and disturbing statement of Trump’s view of the ethics of his fan/political base.’ ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/6 "2022-09-01T06:43:04Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/7 "2022-09-01T06:50:13Z")
Sounds right to me. But that’s a low and oddly shaped bar to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/8 "2022-09-01T06:50:32Z")
Thanks Patrick London. That helps a lot. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/9 "2022-09-01T15:27:22Z")
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”) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/10 "2022-09-01T15:38:18Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > “Conceit” in the meaning of “a flight of fancy” may be a bit old-fashioned now 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. > [@griffin1977](#): > > I thought conceit was a metaphor or simile that deliberately compares two things that are NOT similar 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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/11 "2022-09-01T16:46:41Z")
The best descriptor is “unfortunately true.” ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/12 "2022-09-01T17:37:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/13 "2023-09-04T09:08:08Z")
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 ? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/14 "2023-09-04T13:56:46Z")
That Trump might be able to load and figure out how to shoot a gun is quite fanciful. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/15 "2023-09-04T17:13:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/16 "2023-09-04T17:23:35Z")
Even bad publicity is good when they spell your name correctly. 🫤 ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/17 "2023-09-04T17:33:59Z")
Thanks Expand\_Mapcase. Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/18 "2023-09-04T17:38:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-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/970705/19 "2023-09-04T17:56:11Z")
> [@Octagon](#): > > Thanks Expand\_Mapcase A new spelling! Haven’t seen that before. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > When Trump says anything about his authority, I think he is stating his true beliefs. How is that not exactly the definition I cited?