In this idiom based question, choose the alternative that best expresses the meaning of the English expression "blow your own trumpet", which is often used to describe a certain kind of behaviour.

Introduction / Context:
The phrase "blow your own trumpet" is a common English idiom used in both everyday conversation and formal writing. It usually appears when someone is talking about how people present their achievements or talents. This question asks you to identify what type of behaviour is being criticised or described when someone is said to "blow their own trumpet". Recognising such idioms is important for understanding tone and attitude in texts.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The idiom under test is "blow your own trumpet".- The options suggest actions such as playing music, surprising oneself, praising oneself, or excusing one's own actions.- The idiom is generally used with a slightly negative or humorous tone.- You must select the meaning that matches standard usage in modern English.

Concept / Approach:
Idioms like "blow your own trumpet" are figurative expressions. Literally, it would mean playing a musical instrument, but figuratively it refers to talking proudly about your own achievements. The image is of someone loudly announcing their own importance, much as a trumpet calls attention to itself. Therefore, the idiom is associated with self praise, boasting, or advertising one's own abilities, rather than music, surprise, or forgiveness.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Ignore the literal picture of a musical instrument and focus on how the idiom is used in real sentences.Step 2: Recall examples such as "He is always blowing his own trumpet about his sales record" or "She does not like to blow her own trumpet, but she has done excellent work".Step 3: From these examples, note that the idiom appears when someone is talking about their own success or skills.Step 4: Examine each option: playing music, surprising oneself, praising oneself, or condoning oneself.Step 5: Observe that self praise or boasting matches the idea of drawing attention to yourself, similar to a trumpet fanfare.Step 6: Conclude that "Praise oneself" is the correct interpretation of the idiom.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check the tone of typical usage. When someone says, "I do not want to blow my own trumpet, but I worked very hard on this project", the speaker is apologetically acknowledging that they are about to mention their own achievements. The focus is not on music or surprise; it is on presenting oneself in a positive light. Dictionaries and exam guides also define this idiom as talking too proudly about your own achievements. This confirms that the meaning is self praise or boasting.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option "Play some music": This is the literal meaning and misses the figurative, idiomatic sense that exams test.Option "Surprise oneself": There is no element of surprise in the idiom; it is about deliberate self promotion.Option "Condone oneself": To condone means to forgive or overlook mistakes, which is unrelated to the idea of boasting about success.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners interpret idioms too literally and think of the musical instrument rather than the figurative meaning. Others confuse this idiom with expressions about feeling proud, such as "pat yourself on the back", but they all share the idea of self praise. The nuance with "blow your own trumpet" is that it often carries a warning: people usually prefer modesty. Remember that in competitive exams, idioms almost always require the figurative meaning, not the literal interpretation of the words.

Final Answer:
The idiom "blow your own trumpet" means to praise oneself, especially by speaking proudly about one's own achievements or abilities.