All 11 Uses of
swagger
in
The Odyssey
- There she found the swaggering suitors, just then
amusing themselves with rolling dice before the doors,
lounging on hides of oxen they had killed themselves.†p. 81.1swaggering = walking and behaving in a highly confident manner
- But now the suitors trooped in with all their swagger
and took their seats on low and high-backed chairs.†p. 82.3swagger = walk and behave in a highly confident manner
- How obscenely they lounge and swagger here, look,
gorging in your house.†p. 85.1 *
- And so they bustled about the halls preparing dinner ...
But all the while the suitors, before Odysseus' palace,
amused themselves with discus and long throwing spears,
out on the leveled grounds, free and easy as always,
full of swagger.†p. 144.5
- Pallas Athena, harboring kindness for the hero,
drifted a heavy mist around him, shielding him
from any swaggering islander who'd cross his path,
provoke him with taunts and search out who he was.†p. 180.1swaggering = walking and behaving in a highly confident manner
- Are the swaggering suitors back from ambush yet—
or still waiting to catch me coming home?†p. 353.2
- The swaggering suitors clustered, milling round him,
welcome words on their lips, and murder in their hearts.†p. 356.5
- And so the three confided in the halls
while all the suitors, before Odysseus' palace,
amused themselves with discus and long throwing spears,
out on the leveled grounds, free and easy as always,
full of swagger.†p. 359.9swagger = walk and behave in a highly confident manner
- They all shouted approval of the prince
as Odysseus belted up, roping his rags around his loins,
baring his big rippling thighs—his boxer's broad shoulders,
his massive chest and burly arms on full display
as Athena stood beside him,
fleshing out the limbs of the great commander ...
Despite their swagger, the suitors were amazed,
gaping at one another, trading forecasts:
"Irus will soon be ironed out for good!"†p. 377.9
- Now the man harangued his swaggering comrades:
"Listen to me, my fine friends, here's what I say!†p. 420.1swaggering = walking and behaving in a highly confident manner
- He's killed the suitors, swaggering young brutes
who plagued his house, wolfed his cattle down,
rode roughshod over his son!†p. 455.6
Definition:
walk or behave in a highly confident or proud manner -- often arrogant and sometimes to impress or intimidate others
Swagger is often used to imply that someone moves or behaves as though they are so strong and capable as to be above physical fear. Such people are often portrayed on television as gang members or cowboys.