This seems to be a staple phrase in headlines, particularly with regard to TV celebrities. No entry is to be found in any of my 8 dictionaries! There is no shortage of google hits though.

Does it mean 'to run oneself down' as in the opposite of 'to boast'? e.g. "I'm not really that well qualified to do this job."

Does it carry any connotation of insincerity as in the English 'false modesty'?

I'm sure lots of people will know the answer to this. Guessers need not apply.

Thanks

This seems to be a staple phrase in headlines, particularly with regard to TV celebrities. No entry is to be found in any of my 8 dictionaries! There is no shortage of google hits though.

Does it mean 'to run oneself down' as in the opposite of 'to boast'? e.g. "I'm not really that well qualified to do this job."

Does it carry any connotation of insincerity as in the English 'false modesty'?

I'm sure lots of people will know the answer to this. Guessers need not apply.

Thanks

ถ่อมตัว is to be modest but a Thai I asked about ถล่มตัว had never heard of it.

"พจนานุกรมฉบับมติชน ("Matichon Dictionary of the Thai Language"), First Edition, 2004, page 395:

"ถล่มตัว (สแลง) ถ่อมตัว, พูดในเชิงถ่อมตน"

" . . . to be modest and humble; to speak in a humble manner."

ถ่อมตัว [V] [is] humble; modest (from Lexitron)

1. This definition seems to be exactly what Bannork indicated; note that Matichon indicates that this is a slang usage, currently.

2. Does Matichon qualify as a "guess"?

3. Maybe you need an eighth dictionary.

Best of luck!

"พจนานุกรมฉบับมติชน ("Matichon Dictionary of the Thai Language"), First Edition, 2004, page 395:

"ถล่มตัว (สแลง) ถ่อมตัว, พูดในเชิงถ่อมตน"

" . . . to be modest and humble; to speak in a humble manner."

ถ่อมตัว [V] [is] humble; modest (from Lexitron)

1. This definition seems to be exactly what Bannork indicated; note that Matichon indicates that this is a slang usage, currently.

2. Does Matichon qualify as a "guess"?

3. Maybe you need an eighth dictionary.

Best of luck!

Thanks

1. It is virtually as I guessed from the context it was used in in a meeting of Thais. The sniggering that followed its usage suggested some other nuance than just a straight meaning of 'modest', though. Perhaps a sarcastic tone was also used. I would have thought the majority of Thais understood its meaning. They all did at this meeting and it is used widely in the press, in headlines as I mentioned.

2. Definitely not a guess, a specific source. Perhaps my comment has kept the guessers away from this thread.

3. Indeed a ninth perhaps. You can never have enough dictionaries. Its 'slang' classification would very likely be connected to it not being in the dictionaries I have.

"พจนานุกรมฉบับมติชน ("Matichon Dictionary of the Thai Language"), First Edition, 2004, page 395:

"ถล่มตัว (สแลง) ถ่อมตัว, พูดในเชิงถ่อมตน"

" . . . to be modest and humble; to speak in a humble manner."

ถ่อมตัว [V] [is] humble; modest (from Lexitron)

1. This definition seems to be exactly what Bannork indicated; note that Matichon indicates that this is a slang usage, currently.

2. Does Matichon qualify as a "guess"?

3. Maybe you need an eighth dictionary.

Best of luck!

Thanks

1. It is virtually as I guessed from the context it was used in in a meeting of Thais. The sniggering that followed its usage suggested some other nuance than just a straight meaning of 'modest', though. Perhaps a sarcastic tone was also used. I would have thought the majority of Thais understood its meaning. They all did at this meeting and it is used widely in the press, in headlines as I mentioned.

2. Definitely not a guess, a specific source. Perhaps my comment has kept the guessers away from this thread.

3. Indeed a ninth perhaps. You can never have enough dictionaries. Its 'slang' classification would very likely be connected to it not being in the dictionaries I have.

You guess right in most part. For normal sincere usage it is ถ่อมตัว. ถล่มตัว can be used sarcastically or jokingly probably with close friends whom you have no need to ถ่อมตัว with.

This seems to be a staple phrase in headlines, particularly with regard to TV celebrities. No entry is to be found in any of my 8 dictionaries! There is no shortage of google hits though.

Does it mean 'to run oneself down' as in the opposite of 'to boast'? e.g. "I'm not really that well qualified to do this job."

Does it carry any connotation of insincerity as in the English 'false modesty'?

I'm sure lots of people will know the answer to this. Guessers need not apply.

Thanks

If this phrase really has been in headlinesabout celebrities then I would suggest it could mean 'a fall from grace', ie Tiger Woods, a crash in popularity or reputation, image of self has ถล่ม ,collapsed as with a building!